Statistical Publication Notice

27 July 2010

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Introduction

This release provides data on:

• NHS eye examinations for financial year ending 31 March 2010.
• NHS voucher claims for financial year ending 31 March 2010.

Trend data on NHS eye examinations and voucher claims are available for financial years ending 31 March 2001-2010.

Information is provided on referrals, reasons for primary and supplementary NHS eye examinations and patient type for financial years ending 31 March 2007-2010.

Key Points

• The number of NHS eye examinations has increased from 1.73 million for year ending 31 March 2009 to 1.78 million for year ending 31 March 2010.
• 4.5% of all patients who had an eye examination during the year ending 31st March 2010 were then referred to either their GP or Hospital for follow up care. This compares to 4.2% from the previous year.
• 473,755 GOS(S)3 optical vouchers (pairs of spectacles for which vouchers were redeemed, including complex appliance payments) were reimbursed by NHS Boards during the year ending 31st March 2010. This was a 1.2% increase on the previous year.

Number of NHS sight tests / eye examinations and vouchers provided in Scotland year ending 31st March 2001 to 2010

Interpretation

On 1st April 2006, a new NHS eye examination was introduced and free NHS eye examinations were extended to all in Scotland. The traditional NHS sight test has been replaced by a comprehensive eye examination appropriate to the patient's needs. An initial eye examination is carried out (primary eye examination) and where necessary a second eye examination (supplementary eye examination). This may therefore account for the increase in the number of eye examinations provided during years ending 31st March 2007 – 2010.

An updated GOS(S)1 form was introduced on the 1st April 2006 to coincide with the new NHS eye examination. However, some old GOS(S)1 forms have continued to be submitted and are included in the total for eye examinations in the Scotland trend table from years 06/07 to 08/09.

There was a further update to the GOS(S)1 form in 2009 to reflect the new patient type categories. The new categories are shown within this release.

Detailed Findings

The number of NHS eye examinations has increased from 1.73 million for year ending 31 March 2009 to 1.78 million for year ending 31 March 2010.

4.5% of all patients who had an eye examination during the year ending 31st March 2010 were then referred to either their GP or Hospital for follow up care. This compares to 4.2% from the previous year.

473,755 GOS(S)3 optical vouchers (pairs of spectacles for which vouchers were redeemed, including complex appliance payments) were reimbursed by NHS Boards during the year ending 31st March 2010. This was a 1.2% increase on the previous year.

The total number of NHS eye examinations as a percentage of the population was highest in NHS Tayside with 36.3% of the population getting an NHS eye examination.

The total number of patients receiving a primary eye examination (ordinary resident and exempt visitor) increased by 1.5 % from 1,630,600 for year ending 31 March 2009 to 1,655,075 for year ending 31 March 2010.

Of the 1,655,075 primary eye examinations, 1,647,189 where for ordinary residents, an increase of 1.5% and 7,886 were for exempt visitors, an increase of 6%.

The total number of patients receiving a supplementary eye examination (ordinary resident and exempt visitor) increased by 23.5% from 97,479 for year ending 31 March 2009 to 120,381 for year ending 31 March 2010.

Of the 120,381 supplementary eye examinations, 119,852 were for ordinary residents, an increase of 23.7% and 529 where for exempt visitors, a decrease of 13.2%.

Main Contacts

James MacKerrow
Information Analyst
0131 275 6232
james.mackerrow@nhs.net

Scott Buchanan
Information Manager
0131 275 6112
scott.buchanan@nhs.net

Glossary

GOS(S)1 General Ophthalmic Service (application for NHS eye examination)
GOS(S)3 General Ophthalmic Service (NHS optical voucher)

Pre-Release Access

Under terms of the "Pre-Release Access to Official Statistics (Scotland) Order 2008", ISD are obliged to publish information on those receiving Pre-Release Access ("Pre-Release Access" refers to statistics in their final form prior to publication). The standard maximum Pre-Release Access is five working days. Shown below are details of those receiving standard Pre-Release Access and, separately, those receiving extended Pre-Release Access.

Standard (five day) Pre-Release Access

Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division)
NHS Board Chief Executives
NHS Board Communication leads

Extended Pre-Release Access

Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division)
This extended Pre-Release Access is given to a small number of named individuals in the Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division). This Pre-Release Access is for the sole purpose of enabling that department to gain an understanding of the statistics prior to briefing others in Scottish Government (during the period of standard Pre-Release Access)

History of this Publication

Last Published: 28 July 2009
Next Due: 26 July 2011
Data Available Since: NHS eye examinations and voucher claims data are available for financial years ending 31 March 2000 – 2009.