Optics demands extra duties must be funded

Negotiators responsible for reaching an agreement with the Department of Health on a three-year deal for GOS sight test fees have sent an ultimatum to the Department stating that no consideration can be given to schemes such as revalidation by the profession until funding is made available.

As reported on the Optician website last Thursday, under the deal negotiated by the Optometric Fees Review Committee (OFRC), the sight test fee will rise by 2.5 per cent to £19.80 in the current financial year backdated to April 2008. According to a statement from OFRC, the fee will then rise by 2.3 per cent in April 2009 and by 2.2 per cent in 2010.