Summary

This publication shows the number of ophthalmic practitioners (Optometrists and Ophthalmic Medical Practitioners) who were authorised by Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in England and Local Health Boards (LHBs) in Wales to carry out NHS funded sight tests as at 31 December, from 1998 to 2008.

Key Facts

As at 31 December 2008:

England

• there were 9,540 ophthalmic practitioners. Comparisons with previous years' figures have not been made due to the introduction of the new regulations and subsequent validation exercises that must be considered when interpreting time series data
• 96.4 per cent of practitioners were Optometrists; the remainder were Ophthalmic Medical Practitioners (OMPs)
• there were 18.7 practitioners per 100,000 population.

Wales

• there were 734 ophthalmic practitioners, an increase of 26 (3.7 per cent) on the previous year
• 96.9 per cent of practitioners were Optometrists; the remainder were OMPs. This is an increase of 0.7 percentage points from the previous year
• there were 465 practitioners (63.4 per cent) on an LHB Supplementary List, with the remainder (269 practitioners) on an Ophthalmic List
• there were 24.6 practitioners per 100,000 population, an increase of 0.9 practitioners from the previous year.