Letters
The sight test fee Many people cannot afford to pay fees for NHS services
Many people cannot afford to pay fees for NHS servicesEDITOR, - D A H Laidlaw and colleagues report that the introduction of the sight test fee has reduced ophthalmology referrals and the rate of glaucoma detection.1 I understand that the Department of Health has since denied that there has been a reduction in the number of sight tests since the introduction of charges.
This community health council recently undertook two surveys which included questions on the take up of services for which a fee is charged: sight tests and spectacles, dental checks and treatment, and drug prescriptions. The results confirm that many people are discouraged or prevented from using these services because of the charges.
The first survey obtained the views of the community health council's Health Watch Panel. The panel is a group of about 500 local people who are representative of the population of Warrington and have
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- The sight test fee: effect on ophthalmology referrals and rate of glaucoma detection
- D A H Laidlaw, P A Bloom, A O Hughes, J M Sparrow, and V J Marmion
BMJ 1994 309: 634-636.[Abstract] [Full Text]
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