§ Lord Hoyleasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many pensioners in Warrington take the free eye test each year. [HL4121]
§ Lord WarnerThe table shows the number of National Health Service sight tests paid for in North Cheshire Health Authority in the years ending 31 March 1999 to 2002. Figures for the number of sight tests by constituency, or by age are not collected centrally. Information for Warrington Primary Care Trust is not yet available.
Eligibility to NHS sight tests was extended to those aged 60 and over from 1 April 1999. There was an increase of about 10,000 sight tests between 1998–99 and 1999–2000. It is reasonable to assume that the vast majority of this increase was due to newly eligible people aged 60 or over obtaining NHS sight tests.
64WA
General Ophthalmic Services: Number of sight tests paid for in North Cheshire HA for the years 1998–99 to 2001–02 Year Total number of sight tests Total number of sight tests for the age 60 and over 1998–99 45,600 n/a 1999–2000 55,400 15,000 2000–01 54,600 19,300 2001–02 56,200 20,600 Sight tests can not be equated to the number of patients. Although most people do not come back for a sight test within the year, some patients suffering from medical conditions are advised to have re-examinations sooner.