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Written question asked by Sandra Gidley (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 8 July 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 10 July 2008. It was answered by Ann Keen (Labour) on Wednesday, 16 July 2008 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Sight Impaired: Children

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children aged (a) less than six, (b) six to 10 and (c) 11 to 16 years old have been prescribed glasses in each of the last five years.
Answer

The Department does not collect statistics broken down by the age groups requested. The following table shows the numbers of national health service optical vouchers paid for by the NHS in England for persons aged under 16 and 16-18 in full-time education.

Numbers of spectacles for which vouchers were reimbursed
0-15 (Children) 16-18 (Students)
2002-03 992,220 252,720
2003-04 1,022,960 233,530
2004-05 997,768 236,065
2005-06 996,535 244,534
2006-07 1,011,619 257,918

The data is published by The Information Centre for health and social care in the General ““Ophthalmic Services: Activity Statistics for England and Wales””, copies of these publication have already been placed in the Library.All figures are the total number of NHS optical vouchers and do not take into account individuals who may have received more than one NHS optical voucher.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
479 c542W;479 c540W; 218074
Session
2007-08
Subjects
Children Ophthalmic services Spectacles
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk