PCTs may take control of eye care spending

Control of the General Ophthalmic Services budget may be devolved to local primary care trusts (PCTs) according to the Department of Health (DoH).

According to the Department, a range of centrally funded budgets could be transferred to the NHS during 2010-2011 because 'resources have been freed for PCTs by better commissioning and reductions to the prices PCTs pay to hospitals'.

A DoH spokesperson told Optician: 'This is consistent with the long-term aim of devolving direct control to the front line wherever possible.'

Despite revealing that GOS budgets are candidates for this transfer, the spokesman denied that final decisions have been made on which budgets this would include.