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An optometrist who aims to help other practitioners increase their fees and become more profitable formally launched his scheme at the College of Optometrists conference.

Somerset professional Richard Llewellyn has introduced a number of support systems for optical practices under the Foresight Eyecare banner, and will help decide what sort of fee is right for individual practices.

He has teamed up with Tony Tindale - well known to many in the profession through his training company Total Marketing Resource - and Janet Hatt, who is also involved in training at Llewellyn's Turners Optometrists practice.

They claim that practitioners who join can charge 'realistic fees for your professional services', and end cross-subsidy from the sale of spectacles.

Foresight also claims members will be charged 'sensible' prices for equipment from suppliers.

Llewellyn said that Foresight's benefits allow for practices to be properly funded for consulting room chair time.

'It enables the best equipment, computer systems, instrumentation and training to be afforded, funded by examination fees instead of increased production costs and dispensing fees,' he said. 

'At last, as a profession, we are evolving from the cross-subsidisation of fees from over-charged product. In the newly opened up markets of contact lens and spectacle supply, we can no longer afford to hide our fees in dispensing costs.' 

Fellow director Hatt said that one benefit of the programme was that dispensing charges could be significantly reduced while increasing income and profitability. 'The competitiveness of the practice is increased by virtue of the lower dispensing charges, resulting in less shopping around by patients, and more loyalty,' she said.

Foresight's partnerships with suppliers include Nikon Optical UK, Marchon, No 7 Contact Lenses, Sauflon Pharmaceuticals, and JCL Consulting.