Doubts raised over LOC support funding

Doubts have been raised by sources close to the local optometric committees about the funding arrangements for the proposed LOC Central Support Unit (CSU).

A meeting of LOCs will take place at Gloucester Terrace this Thursday (March 16) to vote on the establishment of CSU and a resolution to create a statutory levy of 0.5 per cent from each LOC.

A draft budget obtained by Optician shows that LOCs will be asked to fund an annual budget of £710,000 of which £85,000 will be spent on head office costs. This will be achieved through a levy of 0.5 per cent taken from practitioners for General Ophthalmic Services - £7,000 for each LOC.