General Ophthalmic Services
Background
ISD collects information on NHS General Ophthalmic Service activity in Scotland, as performed by eye care professionals.
These data are collected on a series of forms referred to as GOS (General Ophthalmic Services) forms.
If a patient is entitled to free or subsidised eye care (excluding eye examinations), they must present evidence of this to the optician (Exemption categories).
The optician submits a claim form for the services provided, which is signed by both the optician and the patient. This form is sent to Practitioner Services for processing the payments. The forms are scanned and their information is stored in a database called OPTIX. ISD then collates these data to provide annual tables of GOS activity. The data exclude NHS Hospital Eye Services and optical service provided privately.
The information in these pages was compiled from OPTIX. Below is a summary of the information on eye examinations and voucher claims for financial year ending 31 March 2007.
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Following the introduction of free eye examinations in Scotland on 1st April 2006, the number of eye examinations during the year to 31st March 2007 was
1,573,103 this compares with 959,949 during the year to 31st March 2006, an increase of 64%.
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3.6% of all patients who had an eye examination were then referred to their GP or Hospital. 96.1% of patients were not referred for further care.
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38.1% of all supplementary eye examinations were for further checks of side vision and pressure in the eye.
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442,944 vouchers (pairs of spectacles for which vouchers were redeemed, including complex appliance payments) were reimbursed by NHS Boards. This was a 3.1% decrease on the previous year.
Ophthalmic Information
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