Sight tests by health board

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Next update expected:September 2026

Updates

30th September 2025
Dataset first published.

Main information

Designation
Official statistics
Data provider
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership
Data source
GOS 1 Sight Test form
Time period covered
April 1996 to March 2025

Overview

Summary of dataset and variables

This dataset shows the number of sight tests paid for by the NHS in Wales. under the Wales General Ophthalmic Services (WGOS) 1 and GOS 5 services. The data is broken down by Local Health Board and financial year. Sight tests are further broken down by eligibility category, including age groups, clinical need, and entitlement to income-related benefits. Prior to 2023-24, equivalent services were provided through GOS 1 and GOS 6 claims.

Data collection or calculation

The NHS sight tests data is sourced from the GOS 1 Sight Test Form, which is submitted by practices to NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP) for payment. This data is subject to some estimation. Due to the scale of the number of sight tests, the information from only 1 in 50 (2%) sight tests is recorded to a database. This means that the information from that sample is scaled up to estimate the number of sight tests by eligibility criteria. The domiciliary sight tests data is extracted from the K2 payments system, which is collected by NWSSP from the GOS 6 Mobile NHS funded Sight Test form submitted by practices for payment.
The data for private sight tests with partial help towards the full cost is extracted from the K2 payments system, which is collected by NWSSP from the GOS 5 Private Sight Test form submitted by practices for payment.

Statistical quality

The sight test data by patient eligibility and type of practitioner collected through WGOS 1 is based on a sample rather than the entire population, as only one in every fifty sight tests is recorded. This sampling and subsequent scaling introduces some uncertainty to the estimates, meaning the figures provided are not exact counts but rather approximations. Users should be aware of this estimation method when interpreting the data. Despite this sampling uncertainty, the time-series has been broadly stable. Eligibility definitions for NHS-funded sight tests have changed over time. For example, from 2023-24 separate categories relating to care leaver, care of local authority, risk of eye disease, uniocular, hearing impaired and retinitis pigmentosa were introduced. 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