Optical Confederation reacts to Autumn Statement

Changes to the NHS budget announced in the government’s autumn economic update last week could have an impact on GOS, according to the Optical Confederation.

Chancellor George Osborne pledged that NHS England would receive £10bn more a year in real terms by 2020 than in 2014-15, but £22bn of efficiencies were still set to be made by 2020-21.

Optometric Fees Negotiating Committee chair Mike George said: ‘We have already made it clear to NHS England that any further pressure on fees will simply push more practices out of business at a time when NHS England needs them to take on more work in the community to deliver the Five Year Forward View.’