Last updated on 10/04/08
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Who can get Free NHS Sight Tests

Non - hospital free NHS Sight Tests are only available to people who are:

• under the age of 16.
• are 16 or over but under 19 and still in full time education.
• are registered blind or partially sighted.
• have been diagnosed diabetes or glaucoma.
• Are entitled to or named on a valid NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate.
• are aged 40 or over and are the parent, brother, sister, son or daughter of a person with diagnosed glaucoma.
• aged 60 or over.
• in need of complex lenses.
• people whose sight test is carried out through the hospital eye department as part of the management of their eye condition.
  

Get or have a partner who gets:

• Income Support.
• Income Based Jobseekers Allowance.
• named on an HC2 certificate.
• People named on an HC3 certificate may also get help towards the cost of a private sight test.
• Pension credit (guarantee credit).

All sight tests carried out through the Hospital Eye Service are free. Anyone else will have to pay for a private sight test. The cost of this may vary from one Optician or another, so it may pay the patient to shop around.

Low Income Schemes

The Low Income Scheme for help with vouchers for glasses is operated by the Patient Services of Pricing Prescription Authority (PPA). The assessment is broadly the same as for Income Support (IS) but with some changes.

If your capital is less than £16,000, or if you or your partner are aged 60 or over you may be eligible for help. If you live permanently in residential care or in a nursing home the capital limit is £21,500. If your income is less than or equal to your requirements, you are entitled to full help with vouchers towards the cost of glasses. The PPA will send you an HC2 Certificate. If your income is higher than your requirements, you may be able to get help with the cost of glasses. The PPA will send you an HC3 Certificate to show that you are entitled to partial help. For sight tests, you will get the difference between the sight test fee and your excess income.

For glasses, the maximum voucher value is reduced by twice your excess income.

Claim on form HC1, this you can obtain from the DSS, The PPA, a NHS Hospital, a Family Doctor or an Optician. After you have claimed on the form the PPA will send you a decision.

If you are not happy with the Decision

There is no right of appeal against a decision made by the PPA. However if you feel they have made a mistake, write and ask them to reconsider, or ask for a review of the decision.
Write to:
Independent Review Section
PPA
Sandyford House
Archbold Terrace
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE99 2ZA

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Accessible Opticians

Andrew C. Smith Ltd
34 Market Place
Doncaster
DN1 1NE
Tel: 01302 344 569
Home visits can be arranged for people who are ill or unable to leave their house.
Accessible.

Edwards & Walker
16 Priory Place
Doncaster
DN1 1BZ
Tel: 01302 349 193
No home visits.
Accessible.

Scrivens Ltd
23 Printing Office Street
Doncaster
DN1 1TP
Tel: 01302 323 157
E-mail: info@scrivens.com
No home visits.

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Arthur Leach
8. Church Street
Armthorpe
Doncaster
DN3 3AE
Tel: 01302 830 168
No home visits.
One step.

Brumpton Opticians
33 High Street
Maltby
S66 8LG
Tel: 01709 812 227
No home visits.
Accessible.
Parking directly outside.

Dollond and Aitchinson
18 - 24 North Bridge Road
Doncaster
DN5 9AN
Tel: 01302 321 515
No home visits.
Accessible.
Disabled Parking outside door.

R.N. Murgatroyd
2 Edlington Lane
Edlington
DN12 1BS
Tel: 01709 863 293
Home visits within the area.

R.N. Murgatroyd
The Old Surgery
March Street
Conisbrough
DN12 2LY
Tel: 01709 862 885
Home visits within the area.

Vision Call
Kelham House
Kelham Street
Doncaster
DN1 3RE
Tel: 01302 738 800
Fax: 01302 730 081
E-mail: yorkshire@vision-call.co.uk
Website: www.vision-call.co.uk
Home visits for anyone who is unable to visit an optician. Free service.

DIAL Disclaimer
Whilst all the information given in this fact sheet was correct at the time of going to press,
DIAL Doncaster cannot be held responsible for any subsequent changes.

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