Optical bodies say DoH plans would 'severely damage' eye care services

Proposals by government to overhaul the General Ophthalmic Services - including local commissioning of the GOS sight test - would have a 'catastrophic effect' on UK eye care.

The warning came this week after the profession's representative bodies responded to a summer letter from the Department of Health on the Health Protection & Improvement Bill.

Plans include placing cash limits on the national GOS budget, devolving the budget to PCTs and local commissioning.

Bob Hughes, chief executive of the AOP, warned: 'This has the potential to severely damage the service provided by optometrists and dispensing opticians.'

Read the full story in this week's Optician.