§ Ann TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many free sight tests were given to(a) pensioners and (b) other people in (i) Kirklees and (ii) England in each year since 1997. [132141]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe table shows the number of national health service sight tests paid for in Calderdale and Kirklees Health Authority (HA) for 1997–98 to 2002–03. Figures for the number of sight tests by constituency or age are not collected centrally. The table shows the number of sight tests where "patient aged 60 and over" was given as the eligibility category and all other sight tests.
Eligibility to NHS sight tests was extended to those aged 60 and over from 1 April 1999. There was an increase of 2.4 million sight tests between 1998–99 and 1999–2000 in England. It is fair to assume that the vast majority of this increase was due to newly eligible people aged 60 or over obtaining NHS sight tests.
However, some patients aged 60 and over will be eligible for sight tests for other reasons as well (for example, on income grounds). The classification for such patients will depend on the patient and the 462W practitioner. The increase in the number of sight tests for those over 60 may therefore reflect an increasing awareness of the eligibility of over 60s.
General Ophthalmic Services: Number of sight test paid in Calderdale and Kirklees HA and England for the year's 1997–98 to 2002–03 Thousand Eligibility categories Patients aged 60 and over Other categories Total number of sight tests Calderdale and Kirklees 1997–98 — — 88.1 1998–99 — — 87.9 1999–2000 41.0 73.0 113.9 2000–01 46.0 68.5 114.4 2001–02 44.1 72.7 116.8 2002–03 49.1 68.5 117.6 England 1997–98 — — 6,991.3 1998–99 — — 6,992.3 1999–2000 3,301.4 6,098.0 9,399.4 2000–01 3,753.3 5,813.8 9,567.1 2001–02 4,013.0 5,794.4 9,807.4 2002–03 4,135.7 5,526.3 9,662.1 Note:
Data on eligibility is derived from a 2 per cent. sample.