GOS fees frozen for fifth year in a row

General ophthalmic services (GOS) fees in England have been frozen for a fifth successive year while CET fees and pre-reg grants have risen by 2%, the Department of Health and Social Care has announced.

The government said the decision reflected ‘the lack of available evidence about any impact on NHS sight test numbers or optical businesses.’ However, the Optical Fees Negotiating Committee (OFNC) said the freeze is not justified on the evidence.

It added that an increase of at least 2.4% was bid for in line with wider investment in NHS care and, as a result, the freeze will have to be imposed by the government without agreement from the OFNC.