Written question asked by Lorna Fitzsimons (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 June 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 16 June 2004. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Wednesday, 16 June 2004 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many senior citizens in Rochdale parliamentary constituency have access to free eye tests; and what percentage are (a) women and (b) from an ethnic minority; how many residents in Rochdale parliamentary constituency aged over 60 years have benefited from the abolition of charges for eye tests; and what percentage were (a) women and (b) from an ethnic minority. - Inc figures and fact that data for the number of sight tests by constituency, senior citizens, gender or by ethnic origin are not collected centrally.

Answer: Mrs. Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many senior citizens in Rochdale parliamentary constituency have access to free eye tests; and what percentage are (a) women and (b) from an ethnic minority; [178510] (2) how many residents in Rochdale parliamentary constituency aged over 60 years have benefited from the abolition of charges for eye tests; and what percentage were (a) women and (b) from an ethnic minority. [178511] Miss Melanie Johnson: Data for the number of sight tests by constituency, senior citizens, gender or by ethnic origin are not collected centrally. In 2002-03, the total number of national health service sight tests paid for by the Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority for patients in the aged 60 and over category was 189,900. The total number eligible for a free sight test for those aged 60 and over was 493,100. Sight tests cannot be equated to the numbers of patients.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 422 c1004W; 178510;178511
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Women Fees and charges Exemptions Eyesight Ethnic groups Pensioners Older people Minority groups Testing Rochdale
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk