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
48 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2023Hywel Dda Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
66 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2023Hywel Dda Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
112 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2023Hywel Dda Local Health BoardOptometrists
46Number of Examinations31/03/2023Hywel Dda Local Health BoardOptometrists - Male
66Number of Examinations31/03/2023Hywel Dda Local Health BoardOptometrists - Female
103 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2023Swansea Bay University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
40 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2023Swansea Bay University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
63 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2023Swansea Bay University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
103 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2023Swansea Bay University Health BoardOptometrists
40Number of Examinations31/03/2023Swansea Bay University Health BoardOptometrists - Male
63Number of Examinations31/03/2023Swansea Bay University Health BoardOptometrists - Female
116 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2023Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
51 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2023Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
65 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2023Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
116 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2023Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardOptometrists
51Number of Examinations31/03/2023Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardOptometrists - Male
65Number of Examinations31/03/2023Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardOptometrists - Female
195 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2023Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
83 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2023Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
112 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2023Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
195 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2023Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardOptometrists
83Number of Examinations31/03/2023Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardOptometrists - Male
112Number of Examinations31/03/2023Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardOptometrists - Female
204 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2023Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
73 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2023Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
130 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2023Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
1 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2023Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Unknown Gender
204 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2023Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardOptometrists
73Number of Examinations31/03/2023Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardOptometrists - Male
130Number of Examinations31/03/2023Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardOptometrists - Female
1Number of Examinations31/03/2023Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardOptometrists - Unknown Gender
888 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
370 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024WalesFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
517 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024WalesFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
1 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024WalesFully Qualified Practitioners - Unknown Gender
888 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024WalesOptometrists
370 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024WalesOptometrists - Male
517 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024WalesOptometrists - Female
1 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024WalesOptometrists - Unknown Gender
53 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024WalesStudent Optometrists
21 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024WalesStudent Optometrists - Male
32 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024WalesStudent Optometrists - Female
204 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
105 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
99 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
204 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardOptometrists
105Number of Examinations31/03/2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardOptometrists - Male
99Number of Examinations31/03/2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardOptometrists - Female
3 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists
2Number of Examinations31/03/2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists - Male
1Number of Examinations31/03/2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists - Female
31 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Powys Teaching Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
12 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Powys Teaching Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
19 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Powys Teaching Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
31 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Powys Teaching Local Health BoardOptometrists
12Number of Examinations31/03/2024Powys Teaching Local Health BoardOptometrists - Male
19Number of Examinations31/03/2024Powys Teaching Local Health BoardOptometrists - Female
2 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Powys Teaching Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists
2Number of Examinations31/03/2024Powys Teaching Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists - Male
100 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Hywel Dda Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
44 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Hywel Dda Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
56 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Hywel Dda Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
100 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Hywel Dda Local Health BoardOptometrists
44Number of Examinations31/03/2024Hywel Dda Local Health BoardOptometrists - Male
56Number of Examinations31/03/2024Hywel Dda Local Health BoardOptometrists - Female
8 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Hywel Dda Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists
2Number of Examinations31/03/2024Hywel Dda Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists - Male
6Number of Examinations31/03/2024Hywel Dda Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists - Female
98 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Swansea Bay University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
37 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Swansea Bay University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
61 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Swansea Bay University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
98 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Swansea Bay University Health BoardOptometrists
37Number of Examinations31/03/2024Swansea Bay University Health BoardOptometrists - Male
61Number of Examinations31/03/2024Swansea Bay University Health BoardOptometrists - Female
4 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Swansea Bay University Health BoardStudent Optometrists
1Number of Examinations31/03/2024Swansea Bay University Health BoardStudent Optometrists - Male
3Number of Examinations31/03/2024Swansea Bay University Health BoardStudent Optometrists - Female
116 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
46 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
70 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
116 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardOptometrists
46Number of Examinations31/03/2024Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardOptometrists - Male
70Number of Examinations31/03/2024Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardOptometrists - Female
13 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardStudent Optometrists
6Number of Examinations31/03/2024Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardStudent Optometrists - Male
7Number of Examinations31/03/2024Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardStudent Optometrists - Female
178 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
78 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
100 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
178 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardOptometrists
78Number of Examinations31/03/2024Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardOptometrists - Male
100Number of Examinations31/03/2024Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardOptometrists - Female
14 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists
3Number of Examinations31/03/2024Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists - Male
11Number of Examinations31/03/2024Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardStudent Optometrists - Female
186 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
68 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Male
117 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Female
1 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners - Unknown Gender
186 [t]Number of Examinations31/03/2024Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardOptometrists
Showing 1,101 to 1,200 of 1,282 rows
Page 12 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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