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TABLE B3

Health Care

General Ophthalmic Services: Selected statistics
England	Number

	1992-93	1997-98	1998-99	1999-2000	2000-01	2001-02	2002-03
Number of practitioners
Ophthalmic medical practitioners	738	696	733	706	708	698	635
Optometrists	5,863	6,395	6,572	6,811	7,116	7,405	7461
Number of GOS sight tests (thousands)
GOS sight tests: Total	5,528	6,991	6,992	9,399	9,567	9,807	9662
By ophthalmic medical practitioners	483	474	426	535	478	436	411
By optometrists	5,045	6,517	6,566	8,865	9,090	9,371	9251
Number of vouchers reimbursed (thousands)	3,185	3,935	3,777	3,662	3,575	3,607	3472

	Contact:Nazeema Momin: 020 7972 5507 (email: nazeema.momin@doh.gsi.gov.uk)
See General Notes Section

See Chart

• 8,096 ophthalmic practitioners held contracts with at least one Primary Care Trust to carry out NHS sight tests in England at 31 December 2002, a similar figure to 2001 and a 23% increase on the number of practitioners at December 1992.  
• In 2002-03, Primary Care Trusts and Health Authorities in England paid for 9.7 million NHS sight tests, a decrease of 1.5% on 2001-02 and 75% increase on 1992-93. This is the first year NHS sight test numbers have fallen.  
• In 2002-03, 3.5 million vouchers were reimbursed, a decrease of 3.7% on 2001-02 and an increase of 9% on 1992-93.The number of vouchers reimbursed by HAs (previously FHSAs) increased between the first full year of the scheme (1987-88) and 1996-97.  

TABLE B3

Health Care

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