In focus: Testing times for testing fee negotiators

Against the backdrop of the current Covid-19 pandemic that has forced many of England’s optical practices to close and undertake emergency appointments at significant health risk to staff, the government’s decision to impose a freeze on GOS fees for the fifth year in a row will come as a body blow.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said it was a ‘difficult decision’ and reflected ‘the lack of available evidence about any impact on NHS sight test numbers or optical businesses’ as a result of fees being frozen since 2016. In response, the Optometric Fees Negotiating Committee (OFNC) said the government’s decision would have to be imposed without the OFNC’s agreement.