Number not essential

Optical bodies are advising practitioners that they need not comply with requests from PCTs to use patients' NHS numbers on GOS forms.

A joint statement by the AOP, ABDO and FODO points out that the requirement is medically driven and is primarily for general practice and the secondary sector. It does not apply to community optometric practices as they have not been included in the national NHS IT programme.

'If your patient has their NHS number, or you have it already, please use that on the GOS form,' the professional bodies said. 'However, most of your patients will not know their NHS number and you should not insist on them producing it.'