In all, 2.28 million under-16s were given NHS sight tests in the year to March 31, the lowest annual figure since 1995-96. At that time, 2.26 million attended and the figure rose steadily to almost 2.5 million at the end of the last decade, but has started to fall away again.
Elsewhere, the total annual number of GOS sight tests in England remains constant, with primary care trusts paying for 1.5 per cent fewer examinations during 2002-2003 than in the previous period.
New Department of Health figures reveal that while 9.7 million NHS sight tests took place in England during the year to March 31 compared to 9.8 million last time, Scotland is seeing a rise with 906,600 tests taking place in 2002-2003, compared to 876,720 in the previous period.
However, England has more tests per head of population with 1,950 per 10,000 people compared to Scotland's 1,794. Wales has 2,215 per 10,000 and its sight test levels remained static at 646,480 in 2002-2003 (2001-2002: 667,460).
In England statistics reveal:
Optical vouchers for 3.5 million spectacles were reimbursed by PCTs, a 4 per cent decrease from 2001-2002
8,096 ophthalmic opticians and ophthalmic medical practitioners were under contract to perform NHS sight tests at the start of the year, 0.1 per cent down on the previous figure
Dorset & Somerset strategic health authority conducts the most sight tests per 10,000 people Ð 2,256. South-west London conducts the fewest (1,521). Fewer children in England are attending GOS sight tests, new Department of Health statistics reveal.
In all, 2.28 million under-16s were given NHS sight tests in the year to March 31, the lowest annual figure since 1995-96. At that time, 2.26 million attended and the figure rose steadily to almost 2.5 million at the end of the last decade, but has started to fall away again.
Elsewhere, the total annual number of GOS sight tests in England remains constant, with primary care trusts paying for 1.5 per cent fewer examinations during 2002-2003 than in the previous period.
New Department of Health figures reveal that while 9.7 million NHS sight tests took place in England during the year to March 31 compared to 9.8 million last time, Scotland is seeing a rise with 906,600 tests taking place in 2002-2003, compared to 876,720 in the previous period.
However, England has more tests per head of population with 1,950 per 10,000 people compared to Scotland's 1,794. Wales has 2,215 per 10,000 and its sight test levels remained static at 646,480 in 2002-2003 (2001-2002: 667,460).
In England statistics reveal:
Optical vouchers for 3.5 million spectacles were reimbursed by PCTs, a 4 per cent decrease from 2001-2002
8,096 ophthalmic opticians and ophthalmic medical practitioners were under contract to perform NHS sight tests at the start of the year, 0.1 per cent down on the previous figure
Dorset & Somerset strategic health authority conducts the most sight tests per 10,000 people Ð 2,256. South-west London conducts the fewest (1,521). Fewer children in England are attending GOS sight tests, new Department of Health statistics reveal.
In all, 2.28 million under-16s were given NHS sight tests in the year to March 31, the lowest annual figure since 1995-96. At that time, 2.26 million attended and the figure rose steadily to almost 2.5 million at the end of the last decade, but has started to fall away again.
Elsewhere, the total annual number of GOS sight tests in England remains constant, with primary care trusts paying for 1.5 per cent fewer examinations during 2002-2003 than in the previous period.
New Department of Health figures reveal that while 9.7 million NHS sight tests took place in England during the year to March 31 compared to 9.8 million last time, Scotland is seeing a rise with 906,600 tests taking place in 2002-2003, compared to 876,720 in the previous period.
However, England has more tests per head of population with 1,950 per 10,000 people compared to Scotland's 1,794. Wales has 2,215 per 10,000 and its sight test levels remained static at 646,480 in 2002-2003 (2001-2002: 667,460).
In England statistics reveal:
Optical vouchers for 3.5 million spectacles were reimbursed by PCTs, a 4 per cent decrease from 2001-2002
8,096 ophthalmic opticians and ophthalmic medical practitioners were under contract to perform NHS sight tests at the start of the year, 0.1 per cent down on the previous figure
Dorset & Somerset strategic health authority conducts the most sight tests per 10,000 people Ð 2,256. South-west London conducts the fewest (1,521).
Fewer children in England are attending GOS sight tests, new Department of Health statistics reveal.