A 6% fee increase for all general ophthalmic services (GOS) eye examinations carried out on or after April 1, 2023, including domiciliary visiting fees, was announced by the Scottish government.
The increase was in line with a fee increase for dentists and GPs and was a further increase from the 4.5% agreed in 2022 after negotiations with Optometry Scotland.
Julie Mosgrove, chair of Optometry Scotland, welcomed the increase and thanked the Scottish government for recognising the sector’s efforts to deliver a high standard of eye care in the community.
‘Increasing the GOS fee ultimately improves the accessibility of free eye examinations across the country, allowing for the most vulnerable groups within Scottish society to have equal access to world renowned standards of primary healthcare. These examinations also contribute to early detection of health issues, which can provide a real advantage to securing effective and appropriate treatment within the community,’ Mosgrove said.
In 2022/23, 2.26 million GOS eye exams were undertaken, which was a 2.4% increase compared to 2021/22.
Kevin Wallace, AOP Councillor for Scotland, also welcomed the Scottish government’s continued commitment to primary eye care services. ‘This model of care, which provides comprehensive eye examinations and assessments for a variety of eye conditions that is free for patients, supports health parity across Scotland. This increase in funding will only further support improved access for the most vulnerable patient groups in our communities.
‘This uplift could not have happened without the dedication of our colleagues at Optometry Scotland and the support of the Scottish government which clearly sees the value of optometry in early detection and prevention in protecting the nation’s health,’ he said.