Costco outlets can apply for GOS

Costco practices are free to make fresh applications for General Optical Services (GOS) contracts to any primary care trust after a ruling by the Family Health Services Appeals Authority (FHSAA).

The FHSAA verdict comes after it had considered whether Costco's practices should be disqualified nationally from the ophthalmic lists of PCTs.

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 (News 29.02.08).