GOS contracts include threat to patient lists

Local optometric committees and practice owners have been expressing their dismay at clauses within the new General Ophthalmic Service contracts.

Clauses, numbered 188.3.1 and .2 in some contracts, explain that primary care trusts have the right to confiscate a practice's records should that practice decide to give up NHS work. Those records would then be handed to another local practice.

Primaryhealthnet.com which provides support, advice and web services for optical practices, highlighted the issue after practices complained about the clauses on its forum. Practitioners on Primaryhealthnet's forum complained at having little or no time to read the contract before signing and returning it in time for the August 1 deadline.