Comment : England expects

The arrival of a favourable new NHS optometry contract for practitioners in Scotland must have come as bittersweet news to those south of the Tweed.

On the eve of the tour aimed at galvanising support against DoH plans to place cash limits on GOS and devolve the budget to England's PCTs, those leading the crusade must be looking at the details of the Scots' deal with envious eyes.

Significant fee increases, a grant to equip practices, measures to pave the way for an increase in co-managed care between ophthalmologists and optometrists. It's all there. Following the extension of optical professionals' responsibilities in Wales through the PEARS scheme, the Scottish deal appears to add further kudos for those practising outside England.

Efforts to head off proposals for changes to GOS regulations which would have 'catastrophic' effects to English eye care are well under way and have attracted the support of MPs.

Those leading the campaign must be gratified to see members lining up their probing questions. It emerged this week that one MP has written to health secretary Patricia Hewitt to ask why the profession has not been consulted before the starting gun was fired on discussing contracts for optometrists and opticians.

Too true. Why can't this Government give eye care professionals the same courtesy as others delivering services to the NHS, such as doctors, dentists, and pharmacists? This week's north of the border announcement has left Scotland's optical representatives rhapsodic about the communications between themselves and the Scottish Parliament  - 'they have listened to the profession' - in a negotiating environment which appears to be blooming rather than belligerent.

Those heading the fight against the GOS proposals, who meet on Monday in Birmingham, must take heart and ask Hewitt themselves why we in England cannot follow our Scottish counterparts.