OFNC highlights concerns over special schools fee

Concerns raised about the revised proposal to the Special Schools Eyecare Service fee to NHS England have not been heeded, according to Optometric Fees Negotiating Committee (OFNC).  

The body said the newly proposed fee was insufficient to provide the unique, ongoing care that was required and, instead, would only allow for a simple examination. 

‘We fear this will mean that either a huge unfunded burden will be placed on those delivering the service, making it unsustainable, or the service as delivered will not match that which was intended and evaluated during the proof of concept. We urge NHS England to reconsider the fee for this important service as a matter of urgency,’ the OFNC stated.