Management of GOS to transfer

The management of the General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) contract would transfer from NHS England to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) from April 2022, under the Health and Care Bill currently before parliament.

However, according to the Optometric Fees Negotiating Committee (OFNC), NHS England has indicated that GOS will remain a national contract under the new system with terms, fees and grants continuing to be negotiated nationally.

OFNC chair Gordon Ilett said: ‘This announcement builds on a constructive meeting OFNC held with NHS England earlier this month which confirmed that, when as anticipated, GOS contract management functions transfer to ICBs, the national GOS contract terms, fees and grants will still be negotiated nationally.’