General Ophthalmic Services, Workforce Statistics, England and Wales - 31 December 2015

This report shows that as at 31 December 2015:

England

• There were 12,136 ophthalmic practitioners. This is an increase of 309 (2.6 per cent) since 2014.

• 98.0 per cent of practitioners were Optometrists; the remainder (2.0 per cent ) were Ophthalmic Medical Practitioners (OMPs). These are similar percentages to the previous year.

• There were 22.3 practitioners per 100,000 population, a slight increase from last year's 21.8

• 47.0 per cent  (5,698) practitioners were male and 53.0 per cent  (6,438) practitioners were female. The 2005 breakdown was 56.6 per cent  male and 43.4 per cent  female practitioners.

Wales

• There were 818 ophthalmic practitioners, an increase of 42 (5.4 per cent ) from the previous year.

• 99.1 per cent  of practitioners were Optometrists; the remainder were Ophthalmic Medical Practitioners (OMPs) (0.9 per cent ).

• There were 723 practitioners (88.4 per cent ) on a Local Health Board (LHB) Supplementary List, with the remaining 95 practitioners (11.6 per cent ) on an Ophthalmic List.

• There were 26.5 practitioners per 100,000 population, an increase from last year's 25.1.

• 47.1 per cent  (385) practitioners were male and 52.9 per cent  (433) were female. The 2005 breakdown was 56.0 per cent male and 44.0 per cent  female practitioners.