§ Hugh BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many free eye tests were given to(a) pensioners and (b) other people in (i) York and (ii) England in each year since 1997. [102692]
§ Mr. LammyThe table shows the number of National Health Service sight tests paid for in north Yorkshire Health Authority (HA) and England for the years ending 31 March 1998 to 2002.
Information for the years since 1997 is collected at HA level. York falls under north Yorkshire HA.
Data is collected by eligibility group and not age. Hence, the closest match to pensioners is the eligibility group of those aged 60 and over.
Information on the number of people having NHS sight tests is not collected centrally. The number of sight tests can not be equated with the number of people as some groups areadvised to have more than one sight test in a year.
845W
General Ophthalmic services: number of sight tests paid for by North Yorkshire HA and England for all patients and patients aged 60 and over for years ending 31 March 1998 to 2002 Thousands North Yorkshire HA England Number of sight tests Number of for aged 60 and over Total number of sight tests Number of sight tests for aged 60 and over Total number of sight tests 1997–98 83 6,991 1998–99 82 6,992 1999–2000 52 125 3,301 9,399 2000–01 62 127 3,753 9,567 2001–02 69 133 4,013 9,807 Note
Eligibility for NHS sight tests was extended to patients aged 60 and over from 1 April 1999.