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Dept of Health

Answer

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many free eye tests for pensioners there have been in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale in each year since 2000. [200994] Miss Melanie Johnson: Figures for the number of sight tests by constituency or by pensioners are not collected centrally. The table shows the number of national health service sight tests paid by East Lancashire health authority (HA) for the years ending 31 March 2000 to 2003 and the three primary care trusts (PCTs) covering the old East Lancashire HA for the year ending 31 March 2004. General ophthalmic services: number of sight tests paid by East Lancashire HA for patients aged 60 and over for the years ending 31 March 2000 to 2004 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. HA name-PCT name Number of sight tests for aged 60 and over (000) 1999-2000 East Lancashire HA 24.5 2000-01 East Lancashire HA 39.8 2001-02 East Lancashire HA 40.8 2002-03 East Lancashire HA 43.6 2003-04 Blackburn with Darwen PCT 13.3 Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale PCT 19.9 Hyndburn and Ribble Valley PCT 10.8 Total East Lancashire HA 44.0 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Notes: 1. Eligibility for NHS sight tests was extended to patients aged 60 and over from 1 April 1999. PCTs took over responsibilities from HAs in October 2002. 2. Sight tests can not be equated to the numbers 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. 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 practitioner.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

200994; 428 c350W

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Fees and charges Exemptions Eyesight Pensioners Testing Burnley Lancashire Rossendale Pendle

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk