Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many outpatient (a) paediatric ophthalmology, (b) optometry and (c) orthoptic appointments for children under 19 years of age were (i) missed as the patient did not attend or (ii) cancelled in 2021-22.

In 2021/22, there were 67,588 outpatient paediatric ophthalmology appointments, 3,967 optometry appointments and 54,615 orthoptic appointments for children under 19 years of age that were missed as the patient did not attend.

In 2021/22, there were 49,720 outpatient paediatric ophthalmology appointments, 3,286 optometry appointments and 48,122 orthoptic appointments for children under 19 years of age that were cancelled.