Deadline for GOS lists delayed into new year

Readers in England still fearful that they won't meet deadlines for the changes to the ophthalmic lists will be delighted to hear the dates have been put back - but only briefly.
This is the latest news to emerge from the optical bodies who have conferred with the Department of Health.
Following a series of discussions with government officials, ABDO, AOP and FODO have achieved a delay in the implementation of the changes.
The qualifying date to take part in 'grandfathering' - and the regulations coming into force - is now mid January. A spokesman for the three bodies said: 'The Department now anticipate that the regulations will come into force no earlier than the middle part of January. This is subject to agreement from ministers, and we will reveal the exact date as soon as possible.'
The qualifying date for taking part in the transitional arrangements for list applications to be in has been shifted from January 28 2005 to March 14 2005, and new lists must be fully implemented by June 17 2005, rather than March 1.
'Applications to PCTs must be made by March 14 2005 to benefit from the transitional arrangements,' said the spokesman.
'The new regulations must be fully implemented by June 17 2005. The Department will be notifying PCTs shortly of the likely date that they will come into force.'
Full details of the changes were published in an earlier edition of optician (November 12), although readers should note that the 'timetable' column has now been altered.