Number of ophthalmic practitioners by health board

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Standard shorthand is used in this table: [t] = total, [x] = not available.

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Data valuesData descriptionDateAreaMeasure
68Number of Examinations31/03/2024Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardOptometrists - Male
117Number of Examinations31/03/2024Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardOptometrists - Female
1Number of Examinations31/03/2024Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardOptometrists - Unknown Gender
9 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists
5Number of Examinations31/03/2024Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists - Male
4Number of Examinations31/03/2024Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists - Female
1,005 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
422 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025WalesFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
582 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025WalesFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
1 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025WalesFully Qualified Practitioners - Unknown Gender
1,005 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025WalesOptometrists
422 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025WalesOptometrists - Male
582 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025WalesOptometrists - Female
1 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025WalesOptometrists - Unknown Gender
75 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025WalesStudent Optometrists
19 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025WalesStudent Optometrists - Male
55 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025WalesStudent Optometrists - Female
1 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025WalesStudent Optometrists - Unknown Gender
255 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
129 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
126 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
255 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardOptometrists
129Number of Examinations31/03/2025Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardOptometrists - Male
126Number of Examinations31/03/2025Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardOptometrists - Female
10 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists
10Number of Examinations31/03/2025Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists - Female
33 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Powys Teaching Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
13 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Powys Teaching Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
20 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Powys Teaching Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
33 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Powys Teaching Local Health BoardOptometrists
13Number of Examinations31/03/2025Powys Teaching Local Health BoardOptometrists - Male
20Number of Examinations31/03/2025Powys Teaching Local Health BoardOptometrists - Female
3 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Powys Teaching Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists
2Number of Examinations31/03/2025Powys Teaching Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists - Male
1Number of Examinations31/03/2025Powys Teaching Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists - Female
109 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Hywel Dda Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
48 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Hywel Dda Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
61 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Hywel Dda Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
109 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Hywel Dda Local Health BoardOptometrists
48Number of Examinations31/03/2025Hywel Dda Local Health BoardOptometrists - Male
61Number of Examinations31/03/2025Hywel Dda Local Health BoardOptometrists - Female
8 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Hywel Dda Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists
2Number of Examinations31/03/2025Hywel Dda Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists - Male
6Number of Examinations31/03/2025Hywel Dda Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists - Female
100 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Swansea Bay University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
36 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Swansea Bay University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
64 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Swansea Bay University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
100 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Swansea Bay University Health BoardOptometrists
36Number of Examinations31/03/2025Swansea Bay University Health BoardOptometrists - Male
64Number of Examinations31/03/2025Swansea Bay University Health BoardOptometrists - Female
7 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Swansea Bay University Health BoardStudent Optometrists
1Number of Examinations31/03/2025Swansea Bay University Health BoardStudent Optometrists - Male
6Number of Examinations31/03/2025Swansea Bay University Health BoardStudent Optometrists - Female
134 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
53 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
81 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
134 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardOptometrists
53Number of Examinations31/03/2025Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardOptometrists - Male
81Number of Examinations31/03/2025Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardOptometrists - Female
16 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardStudent Optometrists
6Number of Examinations31/03/2025Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardStudent Optometrists - Male
9Number of Examinations31/03/2025Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardStudent Optometrists - Female
1Number of Examinations31/03/2025Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardStudent Optometrists - Unknown Gender
197 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
87 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
110 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
197 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardOptometrists
87Number of Examinations31/03/2025Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardOptometrists - Male
110Number of Examinations31/03/2025Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardOptometrists - Female
22 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists
8Number of Examinations31/03/2025Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists - Male
14Number of Examinations31/03/2025Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists - Female
204 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
77 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
126 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
1 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Unknown Gender
204 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardOptometrists
77Number of Examinations31/03/2025Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardOptometrists - Male
126Number of Examinations31/03/2025Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardOptometrists - Female
1Number of Examinations31/03/2025Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardOptometrists - Unknown Gender
9 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2025Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists
9Number of Examinations31/03/2025Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists - Female
Showing 1,201 to 1,282 of 1,282 rows
Page 13 of 13

Main information

Most recent update
30 September 2025
Next update expected
September 2026
Designation
Official statistics
Data provider 1
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership
Data source 1
Ophthalmic List
Data provider 2
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership
Data source 2
Ophthalmic Supplementary List
Data provider 3
NHS England
Data source 3
No specific source from data provider
Time period covered
December 1996 to March 2025

Data notes

Overview

Summary of dataset and variables

This dataset shows the number (headcount) of optometrists working in primary care in Wales. It includes optometrists, student optometrists and ophthalmic medical practitioners, broken down by local health board, sex, and year. For years up to 2019, the data reflects headcounts as at 31 December, and from 2020 onwards, as at 31 March.

Data collection or calculation

Figures for the optometry workforce are reported as of 31 December each year for 2019 and earlier, and as of 31 March for 2020 and subsequent years, due to different data sources being used. For years up to 2019, figures are sourced from NHS Digital’s publication, which reflects practitioners authorised by local health boards to perform NHS-funded sight tests, based on data from the Central Ophthalmic Payments system. This data collection ceased after 2019. For 2020 and beyond, data is sourced from the performers’ list (Ophthalmic List and Ophthalmic Supplementary List), a register of ophthalmic practitioners who can practise in Wales, maintained by NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership. Data from the two sources are collected differently and are not exactly comparable. As the same person could be listed across more than one health board, the headcount is based on a unique count of registration numbers in each health board. Therefore, health board numbers may not necessarily add up to the figure for Wales. Note for 2023 onwards, totals include unknown gender.

Statistical quality

Data from 2020 onwards are not directly comparable with earlier years due to changes in data source and reference period. From 2023 onwards, totals also include cases with unknown gender. Primary care workforce figures are based on the ophthalmic performers list, which can temporarily include optometrists who have stopped working. This may lead to a slight overestimate of the active workforce. Following the introduction of WGOS, improved validation has led to more timely and systematic removal of inactive performers, which is likely to explain the decrease in 2024. There is also a requirement for student optometrists to be listed in the Supplementary Ophthalmic List (SOL), and therefore, data for student optometrists are available from 2024 onwards. On 1 April 2019, health service responsibility for Bridgend residents moved from Abertawe Bro Morgannwg to Cwm Taf. Health board names also changed: Cwm Taf became Cwm Taf Morgannwg, and Abertawe Bro Morgannwg became Swansea Bay. See the weblinks section for official statements.

Related reports

Published by

Organisation
Welsh Government
Contact email
stats.healthinfo@gov.wales

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