Verum writes: Regular eye tests are crucial, but the numbers say different

Publication of the annual report; ‘General Ophthalmic Services activity statistics for England, year ending 31st March 2018,’ may have led to a tsunami of excitement in the world of optometry and dispensing optics.

But in actual fact, I suspect it may be more a very gentle ripple in the otherwise calm waters of optical politics and for most of those who are even aware of the publication, it is filed under ‘read tomorrow’; and, of course, tomorrow never comes.

So what is this report and what are its implications? The GOS document is the result of a detailed information gathering exercise by NHS digital, taken from GOS forms for NHS sight tests, vouchers and repairs. This then gives a summary of information about GOS activity in England for the financial year 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018, together with a time series from 2002-03.