Costco intends to provide GOS again after it seeks amendment to the planning consents for members-only retail outlets that prevent it opening its optical practices to the public.
Its intentions were revealed at a Family Health Services Appeals Authority (FHSAA) hearing, the verdict of which has just been released, to decide whether its practices should be disqualified nationally from the ophthalmic lists of PCTs.
A decision was postponed to allow for the provision of evidence on the retailer's removal from the ophthalmic lists of the PCTs on which it had previously appeared.
Costco, represented by Charles Flint, claimed it wished to 'avoid the stigma' of the imposition of national disqualification.
The issue of national disqualification had been referred to the FHSAA after a High Court judgement rejecting Costco's appeal against an earlier FHSAA ruling, which upheld the decision by Milton Keynes PCT to refuse Costco entry on its ophthalmic list. Entry was refused because as a members-only outlet, Costco could not provide GOS to all comers as reported in Optician February 29.
Over the issue of national disqualification, written submissions on behalf of Milton Keynes PCT said Costco's membership model was incompatible with provision of GOS nationally. The PCT also attacked Costco for attempting to negotiate with the other PCTs on whose ophthalmic lists it appeared at local level after the High Court decision upholding Milton Keynes PCT's refusal, without informing them that the issue of national disqualification was pending.
'It is apparent to us that Costco, by its advisers, sought to advance its own interests with little regard to the public interest in economy of resources.'