Optics takes case to Winterton on GOS

Health minister Rosie Winterton personally reassured the profession last week that the Government is committed to quality ophthalmic services and there is no intention to restrict choice.

Representatives from ABDO, FODO and the AOP met with health minister Rosie Winterton at the Department of Health to discuss the Health Improvement & Protection Bill and the forthcoming GOS review.

The meeting took place just days before the optical bodies took to the road to fight the Government's proposal on the future of GOS in England (see below).

However, the meeting was described by the three bosses of the professional bodies as 'constructive', and they received some encouraging feedback from Winterton.

She made clear her commitment to ophthalmic services and stressed that there was no intention by the Government to restrict choice, prevent practitioners from entering the local optical market or to end the demand-led nature of the GOS for the provision of sight tests.

Winterton said the focus of government plans was to allow PCTs to contract with a wider range of providers so that dispensing opticians and lay-owned practices are able to contract direct rather than through 'grandfathering' arrangements.

ABDO's general secretary Sir Anthony Garrett said the discussion presented a serious opportunity to move the cause of optics 'substantially' forward for the 'wider benefit of patients'.

'The meeting was positive and the mood was good,' he revealed. 'We have promised to stay closely in touch with the minister and her team and they with us, and it is now up to the professional bodies to engage with their members to make sure the whole profession is speaking in a united voice.'

FODO's chief executive David Hewlett said the meeting was an important step forward for optics, in which the minister expressed enthusiasm for an increased role for primary care provision.

'Provided we can agree a way forward,' he said, 'this should open the way for constructive dialogue in the GOS review, and help us deliver new benefits for patients and new opportunities for practices to offer more services.'

Leaders of the three optical bodies (pictured above) presented the minister with a new joint policy document, Primary Eyecare in England — A Vision for the Future.

The document requests a higher profile for eye health, regular eye examinations, maintenance of a centrally negotiated and funded eye examination and the opportunity for optical practices to provide a wider range of primary care services in the community.