Simon Jones: Fee familiarity

As sure as night follows day, the Optometric Fees Negotiating Committee (OFNC) has had another bid for increased GOS remuneration for fees and grants dismissed, seemingly out of hand, by NHS England (NHSE).

Increases in the cost of energy and spiralling inflation rates had put extra emphasis on the OFNC’s negotiations with NHSE, but they are acute issues. Chronic GOS underfunding is at the root of the problem, along with the government’s apparent disdain for any sectors that have had the temerity to ask for better pay.

Like nursing unions’ proposal for the percentage at which salaries should rise, the OFNC requested a 17% uplift in the mandatory GOS fees to £25.90; a very reasonable figure given the organisation had presented data to NHSE that the average cost of providing an NHS sight test was between £43 and £49. Not reasonable enough, though.