I was gobsmacked by the GOC’s behaviour last week. Like many others I pay my retention fee by direct debit, and, being ever aware of the headline news of the percentage of the profession ‘yet to register’, I duly posted my retention form back to the GOC about six weeks ago.
The retention fee was taken out of my bank account, and I even got a receipt for the money, followed shortly afterwards by a ‘Failure to register’ notice which made me feel a bit like a criminal – what happened to the polite reminder?
Surely, this must be a mistake I thought, so I phoned the GOC to be told that they had not had my retention form. I explained that this had been posted to them weeks ago, and that they had taken my money! I asked if I could download another form from the website and send it straight back to them – yes but you have to send a further £20 ‘late registration fee’. I duly did this, and sent a letter to the registrar as I felt this was inappropriate – I will not be getting my money back as it is an administrative charge, and the loss of my details in the post (I only have their word for this) is not their fault!
As the GOC has obviously not processed my initial registration form, I fail to see that processing my ‘second’ should require any further payment as they have not spent the time and effort in the first place.
Is there something slightly unfair about taking the money from my bank account when clearly there was no intention of putting my name on the register?
When the banks have had the ‘charge’ they make for late payment of credit cards reduced to £12 by the OFT, does it not seem excessive to be charged an extra £20 for actually paying the bill on time?
When you consider that most optometrists conduct an excellent eye examination lasting about 30 minutes for a derisory NHS fee of less than £20 – the charge for opening a letter and ‘scanning’ it seems a bit over the top – or perhaps we are just a trifle underpaid?
Be warned – the GOC seems to be spending more time chasing the profession than promoting ‘better eye care’ – its website tells you how to complain about your optician – no details of how to complain about the GOC. That’ll be on the College’s website I expect?
If anyone else has had similar problems please let me know, as I will be taking this matter further as a matter of principle.
Tim Bramwell
Winsford, Cheshire
So NICE guidelines will say all patients with IOPs over 21mmHg should be referred, irrespective of discs and fields.
Fantastic, now I can stop working unpaid, monitoring these people who fall between the cracks of current GOS contracts and best practice. Bring it on. Let’s fill the secondary care glaucoma clinics and refuse to have them back until we are paid for the work done.
This could be the best news I’ve heard in months.
Max Davison
Watchet, Somerset