How UK eye care services are delivered
The four countries of the UK take different policy paths in relation to health and have divergent methods of eye care, both in terms of structure and delivery.
The four countries of the UK have different structures and ways of delivering eye care services. As health is a devolved area, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales can make their own decisions in relation to health. Optometrists, like many other primary care professionals, are contracted by the NHS to deliver NHS services. Primary eye care services in the UK are mainly provided under a General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) contract between the NHS and practice owners (contractors). More than two-thirds of sight tests conducted across England, Northern Ireland and Wales, and all tests in Scotland, are under a GOS contract, which is free to the patient at the point of delivery.
These pages give details on how this works in each respective UK nation.