Publication of Family Practitioner Services General Ophthalmic Statistics for Northern Ireland 2024/25
Date published:
The Health and Social Care's Business Services Organisation (BSO) has today published its Family Practitioner Services General Ophthalmic Statistics for Northern Ireland 2024/25.
This Accredited Official Statistics report contains high level summary information on activity and payments in relation to General Ophthalmic Services. Information is provided at NI level with further breakdowns presented at both Local Commissioning Group (LCG) and Local Government District (LGD) level.
The publication is available on the Business Services Organisation's website at General Ophthalmic Services Statistics - Business Services Organisation (BSO) Website (hscni.net)
Key Points
The key points from the 2024/25 report are:
Ophthalmic Services
- In Northern Ireland, there were 266 ophthalmic practices at the end of March 2025 with 703 Ophthalmic Practitioners registered with BSO to provide Ophthalmic Services. Whilst these figures represent increases of 2% in practice numbers since 2014, and 16% in practitioners since 2017; when compared with March 2024, practices have increased by 1% and practitioners have increased by 2%.
- At Northern Ireland level, 94% of the population live within five miles of an ophthalmic practice, with at least 85% of the population living within three miles in more urban LGDs.
- There were approximately 460,000 health service eye tests carried out during the year, a decrease of 2% from 2023/24. This followed three consecutive annual increases. Over the year, total sight test activity was 29% higher than in 2005/06 but 3% below the series high recorded in 2016/17.
- For every 5 sight tests provided during the most recent year, 4 were for children under age 16 or patients aged 60 and over. Moreover, females were more likely to receive a health service sight test than males, with 25% of the female population attending a test during the year compared to 20% of males.
- For children under 16 and adults over 60, groups which are exempt from payment, the proportion of the population attending a sight test in the last 3 years is lower in the most deprived areas than in the least, by 4 and 10 percentage points respectively.
- There were approximately 167,000 optical vouchers to be used towards glasses or contact lenses processed during the year. This represents a 6% decrease compared to 2023/24 and is the third consecutive year on year decrease. Almost half (48%) were for children under the age of 16.
- In terms of Enhanced Services, 59% of Level I assessments and 51% of Level II assessments resulted in an onward referral.
- There were over 51,500 unique assessments at the Northern Ireland Primary Eyecare Assessment and Referral Service (NI PEARS), a 4% increase on 2023/24. Of these, only 24 were for remote consultations. The vast majority of assessments (89%) were first assessments with the remainder follow-ups.
- The cost of primary care ophthalmic services in Northern Ireland was over Pound 24.6 million, a decrease of 3% on 2023/24. The average cost per head of population was Pound 12.90; 6% higher than in 2017/18 and 3% lower than the previous year.
