Optics lobbies Clegg over commissioning

Optics has joined forces with pharmacy to lobby the Liberal Democrats and win a bigger say in the new NHS commissioning structures.

The Optical Confederation and Pharmacy Voice, have requested a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Liberal Democrat MP Paul Burstow to discuss how the Health and Social Care Bill could be amended to strengthen local commissioning structures under the new system.

Optician understands that the request was made to the Liberal Democrats due to the party's concerns over the governance and structure of the proposed GP commissioning bodies as they are currently constituted.

The letter, from David Hewlett, chief executive of the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians, said the two bodies wanted to contribute to the proposed NHS reforms and be part of the NHS Future Forum. The letter also raised the issue of transparency and potential conflicts of interest in GP commissioning.