Concerns raised over fee rise in Scotland

A question mark hangs over the promised increase in sight test fees for Scottish optometrists due to be implemented in April next year.

Current fees for Scottish optometrists for each NHS primary eye examination are £36 and £21 for each NHS supplementary eye examination.

The fees payable to optometrists for NHS eye examinations were agreed for 2006/07 and 2007/08 by the previous government which introduced NHS sights for all in April 2006.

However, in a response to a tabled written question in Parliament, Minister for Public Health Shona Robison stated that any further increase in the 2007/08 level of fees payable for eye examinations was 'subject to the outcome of the spending review'.