Features

The new Primary Ophthalmic Services contract becomes reality today. Imagine a conversation among group of optometrists, after a CET meeting. All own individual practices situated in neighbouring PCTs. Each wants reassurancethey have completed the paperwork correctly to register on August 1.

I imagine there would be some surprise and incredulity when they realise that a slightly different process has been adopted by each PCT. The forms used and information collected may be different and the contract itself is not guaranteed to be the same as the 'standard'negotiated by the AOP, FODO and ABDO. This is despite assurances during the negotiations that PCTs would comply with central guidance.

This variability on behalf of PCTs demonstrates their local nature and the conclusion that however frequently the national picture is presented to them, there will always be local differences, as each one translates national policy to local implementation. It also reinforces the need for our profession to be well set upand to actively engage with PCTs. Undoubtedly, the contract has opportunities for the profession as PCTs will be able to contract with optical practices to commission new services and to expand our healthcare role.

The conversation between my hypothetical group of optometrists would no doubt drift to how much the new contracts will have cost them in time and effort. Whileit was always realised such an exercise does not come without cost, the variable nature of PCTs will add to the cost.For example,some practitioners will feel obliged to use a solicitor to check over a contract that may have had additional clauses inserted.

Perhaps the most worrying aspect of the new contract implementation is the cost to the taxpayer of PCTs not following a standard approach.PCTs should have differences in approach to satisfy local healthcare needs,butit must make sense that a purely administrative exercise has consistency.In the optics industry there are many companies represented across PCTs, where each company has to register with every PCT. All this requires time and effort and adds to the costs of an over-burdened NHS. Contrast this to similar contracting professions where each company only has to register with its local PCT, hence saving time and effort.

I doubt it will ever be known how much this exercise has cost. Over the next few weeks we will know if the new contracts have been implemented successfullyand there should be no need to repeat the exercise for many years.Even so, the industry and the DoH should review the lessons learnt and encourage PCTs to adopt a far moreconsistent approach inany future administrative exercise.

Providing exclusive eye care news, information and educational needs every week, including a FREE CET programme. Subscribe to Optician Print Edition.