Following more than two years of negotiation between Optometry Scotland (OS) and the Scottish Executive Health Department (SEHD), a new GOS contract for Scotland has been agreed and will be implemented on 1st April 2006. This legislation has been passed as part of the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act.
The old NHS sight test will be consigned to history and replaced with a new NHS eye examination which will provide eyecare appropriate to the individual needs of patients. It will not require mandatory refraction if that is not appropriate, however will provide a funded supplementary examination for specified circumstances e.g. where glaucoma is suspected and repeat IOP or field tests are indicated.
It has been agreed that core tests required will include binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy with slit-lamp and Volk lens, contact applanation tonometry and full threshold visual field testing. SEHD has asked the Scottish Committee of Optometrists (SCO) to give an assurance that the professional capabilities exist to undertake this work by all optometrists and OMPs who wish to sign the new contract.
SCO in association with OS has set up a series of ‘training and competency’ events across Scotland to enable practitioners to ensure that their skills are adequate in these areas and to be assessed as competent. Any optometrists practicing in Scotland should already have signed up to attend one of these events and if not should contact SCO to arrange an assessment as soon as possible.
An £8,000 equipment grant will be available for each practice offering GOS whether part time or full time to ensure that the necessary instrumentation is available to offer the new service. It is hoped that this grant will help address problems of health inequality and allow provision of service in areas where it has been uneconomic to do so in the past.
Examination fees have been agreed as follows:
From 1st April 06
Primary examination £28.50 Supplementary examination £18.00
From 1st April 07
Primary examination £36.00 Supplementary examination £21.00
Beyond this fees have yet to be agreed.
The SEHD has recognised the commitment of Optometrists to the NHS, and addressed the issue of low NHS fees for the increasingly sophisticated service that Optometry provides. This new contract has been widely welcomed by all the national bodies associated with optometry and it is now up to the profession in Scotland to rise to the challenge for the benefit of the public.
For more information on training and competency assessments please contact:
Lorna Cameron Secretary SCO
5 St Vincent Street
Edinburgh
EH3 6SW
Tel/Fax 0131 220 4542
Or visit Optometry Scotland