Wales sees dramatic fall in voucher repairs

A dramatic fall in replacement and repaired spectacles took place in Wales last year, coinciding with a high profile suspension of a Welsh optometrist who gave children extra pairs.
New Department of Health statistics reveal that from April to September 2002 voucher A replacement/repair for both lenses fell in the principality from 8,140 (April-September 2001) to 6,990.
The General Ophthalmic Statistics for England and Wales, which usually record a static optical environment for both countries, showed that in Wales there was a 1,610 year-on-year fall for both lenses over the eight voucher values (2001: 10,480; 2002: 8,870).
For frames there was a fall from 340 in 2001 to 230 in the six months last year.
The case of Gwyn Evans, who gave extra pairs of spectacles to 'deprived' youngsters attracted widespread media attention at the end of 2001. He was suspended from practice in April 2002 for three months by the General Optical Council (News, April 19), and fined £1,600.
Elsewhere in the statistical survey, as reported last week, the Department revealed that 5.17 million sight tests were paid for by health authorities from April to September 2002, 2 per cent less than the same period in 2001. Vouchers for 1.89m pairs of spectacles were reimbursed by HAs, a fall of 3.6 per cent.
It was also notable that 93,000 fewer people on income support and other benefits received a sight test paid for by HAs (2001: 608,040, 2002: 515,020). However, the number of tests for diabetics/glaucoma sufferers increased by 8,000.