Optometry Wales issues contract guidance

As new regulations come into force today (October 20), Optometry Wales has issued guidance to optical practitioners outlining new requirements in order to qualify for Welsh GOS.

Patient signatures are now required on all NHS forms and forms without signatures will be returned by NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP) to practices.

Practitioners must have completed the four mandatory Wales General Ophthalmic Services (WGOS) training hosted by Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) and be Eye Health Examination Wales (EHEW) accredited, before delivering services.

All staff assisting in the delivery of WGOS must complete mandatory training hosted by HEIW before seeing patients;  all paper NHS forms must be submitted within three months and new clinical fees and voucher values have now come into effect.