Statistics taken from General Ophthalmic Services (GOS): Activity Statistics for England and Wales, Year Ending 31 March 2008 shows in England the number of NHS sight tests came in at 11.048 million, an increase of 563 thousand (5.4 per cent) on the previous year. Between 2002/03 and 2007/08, there was an increase of 1.386 million (14.3 per cent).
NHS Information Centre Chief Executive Tim Straughan said “A sight test has the potential to transform a person's quality of life and our figures show that the number of tests has increased by nearly 1.4 million since 2002-03."
"A main objective of General Ophthalmic Services is to provide eye care for those who need it most, such as children, people on low incomes and those aged 60 and over. The increase in the number of tests, issued vouchers and ophthalmic practitioners shown in our reports suggests such services are reaching those people.”
Even though these services are reaching more people, is there an increasing awareness that people with a visual impairment are entitled to receive any literature they require in an alternative format? Anyone with a sight impairment (no matter how small it maybe) should have the choice of how they choose to receive any correspondence.
We need to remember, these statistics are for those only entitled to NHS tests, how much has it really increased?
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