Number of ophthalmic practitioners by health board

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

View options

Filters

Data description ( of 1 selected1 selectable options)

Date ( of 30 selected30 selectable options)

Area ( of 10 selected10 selectable options)

Measure ( of 15 selected15 selectable options)


Data valuesData descriptionDateAreaMeasure
117 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2017Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
99 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2019Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
123 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2015Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
91 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2017Hywel Dda Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
128 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2018Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
94 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2019Swansea Bay University Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
116 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2014Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
83 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2015Hywel Dda Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
85 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2016Hywel Dda Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
31 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2017Powys Teaching Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
875 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2018WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
93 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2018Hywel Dda Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
187 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2018Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
95 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2019Hywel Dda Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
170 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2013Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
75 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2014Hywel Dda Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
174 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2014Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
34 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2015Powys Teaching Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
178 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2015Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
34 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2016Powys Teaching Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
77 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2016Cwm Taf Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
197 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2017Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
78 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2017Cwm Taf Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
188 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2017Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
27 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2013Powys Teaching Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
32 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2018Powys Teaching Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
66 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2013Cwm Taf Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
165 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2018Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
221 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2019Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
31 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2019Powys Teaching Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
141 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2011Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
149 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2013Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
776 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2014WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
30 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2014Powys Teaching Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
71 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2014Cwm Taf Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
157 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2014Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
148 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2010Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
185 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2015Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
170 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2012Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
157 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2015Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
111 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2012Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
182 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2016Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
42 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2011Powys Teaching Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
117 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2016Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
149 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2012Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
841 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2017WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
781 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2013WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
203 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2013Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
211 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2010Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
159 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2017Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
75 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2011Hywel Dda Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
132 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2009Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
214 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2018Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
672 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2004WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
599 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2001WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
69 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2013Hywel Dda Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
570 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/1998WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
76 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2018Cwm Taf Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
68 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2011Cwm Taf Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
875 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2019WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
117 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2013Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
182 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2009Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
673 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2005WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
567 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/1997WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
37 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2010Powys Teaching Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
110 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2009Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
149 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2011Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
112 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2010Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
173 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2014Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
138 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2010Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
37 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2012Powys Teaching Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
673 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2006WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
599 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2002WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
809 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2012WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
602 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2000WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
756 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2010WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
230 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2012Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
818 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2015WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
582 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/1999WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
212 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2011Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
708 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2007WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
78 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2015Cwm Taf Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
75 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2012Hywel Dda Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
76 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2010Hywel Dda Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
819 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2016WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
768 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2011WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
522 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/1996WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
34 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2009Powys Teaching Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
61 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2009Cwm Taf Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
734 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2008WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
629 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2003WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
68 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2012Cwm Taf Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
159 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2016Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
185 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2016Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
147 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2009Cardiff & Vale University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
72 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2009Hywel Dda Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
63 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2010Cwm Taf Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
120 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2011Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
711 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2009WalesFully Qualified Practitioners
168 [t]Number of Examinations31/12/2019Aneurin Bevan Local Health BoardFully Qualified Practitioners
Showing 1 to 100 of 1,282 rows
Page 1 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.

Published by

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

Select the filtered or whole dataset to download

Select download format

Contains only the dataset
Contains only the dataset
Contains only the dataset

Select number formatting

This includes rounding to decimal places and commas to separate thousands
This includes rounding to decimal places and commas to separate thousands

Select language