Report on DOs' role taken to Parliament

Dispensing optics is expected to get a boost in Parliament this autumn following last week's launch of Nick Bosanquet's report The Key Role of Dispensing Opticians (News, June 30).

Bosanquet raised the idea of a parliamentary discussion during a 'highly encouraging' meeting with health committee chairman Kevin Barron and ABDO has since distributed copies of the report to all MPs and members of the House of Lords.

Commenting on Bosanquet's report, ABDO general secretary Anthony Garrett said he hoped ministers would listen to someone who is 'independent, academic and well-respected articulating very largely for our case'.

'It is an absolute nonsense for DOs to be involved with clinical work and not be included on PCT lists and it follows that they have to be full members of LOCs. If they are recognised in this way then they should be eligible for CET funding in the same way that optometrists are.'