AOP reacts to Boots' FODO insurance move

Letters have been sent by the Association of Optometrists to Boots Opticians franchisees after the multiple snubbed its indemnity insurance in favour of the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians.

Boots has decided to move all its owned and franchise practices across to the FODO scheme for consistency.

A Boots UK spokesperson said: 'The FODO scheme already provides the professional liability for Boots Opticians owned practices and for many of our franchisees, and we have therefore decided to move all our practices to this scheme.'

In a statement the AOP urged franchisees unhappy with the move to contact its legal department. It added: 'The AOP understands Boots' desire for there to be consistency of cover across all their practices, but regrets their intention to achieve this by, in some instances, reducing the level of cover. AOP insurance gives cover of £5m as opposed to FODO's £2m.'