Optician news in brief

A cross-sector summit to test how the GOS (General Ophthalmic Services) contract will be managed from April 2013 was held by the Local Optical Committee Support Unit (LOCSU) last week. The national framework for contract monitoring for GOS is designed to avoid local interpretations causing difficulties in some areas. LOCSU chairman Alan Tinger said: 'Being asked by the NHS Commissioning Board to test out the national framework for the single operating model is hugely significant.'

Approval has been granted to the College of Optometrists' Independent Prescribing exam for a further three years following a quality assurance inspection by the General Optical Council. As well as College staff, the GOC interviewed the chair of the Standard Setting Panel. The College vowed to follow GOC recommendations to ensure two external examiners, rather than one, were involved in the whole exam process, and involve members of the IP panel in the development of exam questions.