Trusts to reconsider Costco's place on list

Several primary care trusts are to reconsider the inclusion of Costco optical outlets on their ophthalmic lists in the light of last month's landmark High Court ruling.

As reported in Optician (News, February 29), the wholesale retailer, which has practices on the lists of 16 PCTs, had a High Court judgement awarded against it on February 19.

The judgement found that in providing GOS, Costco would be in contravention of regulation 13A of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 in not being open to all individuals.

Costo operates a members and guests only policy with members being subject to a £25 annual fee. The ruling followed Costo's appeal against Milton Keynes PCT's decision to refuse its application to be added to its ophthalmic list.