Preparing for NHS changes

LOCSU and the Optical Confederation have been working together to prepare for changes to the NHS.

As part of the government's Health and Social Care Act, primary care trusts (PCTs) were replaced by clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) from the start of the month.

It means contracts for mandatory and additional General Ophthalmic Services will transfer from PCTs to the NHS commissioning boards. Contractors would be sent an updated version of the contract for signature by their NHS commissioning Area Team during the second or third quarter of 2013, LOCSU said.

LOCSU and the Confederation were also working towards a Single Operating Model for GOS contracts, reducing the variation in the 'local' interpretation of what is required to demonstrate contract compliance at practice visits, LOCSU said.