Eye care services

The Department of Health has launched its findings from the General Ophthalmic Services Review. The main outcome is a commissioning toolkit that provides practical advice for primary care trusts and practice based commissioners on the commissioning of community based eye care services. The toolkit builds on the evaluation of the chronic eye care pilots, which tested community based pathways for glaucoma, age related macular degeneration and low vision services. The GOS review’s findings on a range of other matters have also been published.

• Commissioning toolkit
• GOS Review - summary of findings

This guidance replaces any previous guidance, in particular HC(89)12, on charges for HES patients who require sight tests and/or optical appliances.

Letter from Derek Busby to PCT Directors of Finance, Optometrists and Ophthalmic Medical Practitioners writing to notify increases in the NHS sight test fee from 1 April 2006, pre-registration supervisors allowance for 2006/07 and continuing education and training allowance for 2006 payable in 2007.

(Gateway reference 6917) Primary Care Trusts are asked to note that SI 2006 No. 1550 came into force on 19th July. It amends existing regulations and provides for an appeal to the Secretary of State against a PCTs decision as to the amount to be paid to suspended General Ophthalmic Services contractors and assistants. This is accompanied by two determinations, which govern how PCTs calculate the sums. In addition SI 2006 No. 1550 prohibits the use of premium rate telephone lines by ophthalmic contractors and makes provisional arrangements in relation to them.

• Statutory Instrument 2006 No. 1550 (opens new window)
• Determination on payments to suspended General Ophthalmic Services contractors
• Determination on payments to persons suspended from General Ophthalmic Services supplementary lists

On 29th March between approximately 10.45am and 12.25pm the moon will pass across the face of the sun, creating a partial eclipse of the sun. Looking directly at the sun can result in serious eye damage or blindness. It is dangerous to look at the Sun at any time and children, particularly, may be more tempted to sneak a peek during the eclipse.

Gateway reference 5358. Significant change to registering patients as blind or partially sighted

Changes to fees payable for NHS ophthalmic services, and regulations about exemptions.

• General ophthalmic services: increases to NHS optical voucher values from April 2006
• Increases to sight test fee, optical voucher values and tax credit limits from 1 April 2005
• Increase in the NHS Sight Test Fee (April 2004)
• Increases in NHS optical vouchers and tax credits update (April 2004)
• Increase in NHS sight test fee (August 2003)
• Changes to the optical voucher scheme (June 2002)
• Increase in NHS sight test fee (April 2002)
• Increase in spectacle voucher values for patients receiving tax credits (March 2002)
• Increase in NHS sight test fee and changes to the optical voucher scheme (February 2000)
• Increase in spectacle voucher values for patients receiving tax credits (January 2001)

This letter outlines the arrangements for payments for loss of earnings in respect of continuing education and training undertaken by optometrists and ophthalmic medical practitioners on PCT lists, and the level of payment in respect of 2005 CET which will be payable in 2006. The revised Determination and a claim form are also available here.

This guidance describes the arrangements for primary care trusts (PCTs) to manage lists of practitioners who provide, assist in the provision of or perform general ophthalmic services (GOS).

The Opticians Act 1989 (Amendment) Order 2005, along with a report on the consultation on a draft of this Order and a Regulatory Impact Assessment. This Order is now being laid before Parliament.

The wording of the National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) Regulations 1986 (S.I. 1986/975) as it applies to England, as it stood in April 2006.

Proposals for the reform of the General Optical Council – draft Opticians Act (Amendment) Order 2004.

The Department of Health in association with NatPaCT are holding four regional events to launch the Report of the National Eye Care Steering Group.

Abolition of the abatement rule governing the payment of the trainer’s grant to supervisors of pre-registration trainees, and linkage of salary for pre-registration trainees to the national minimum wage

• General Ophthalmic Service: Abolition of the abatement rule

Useful links about ophthalmic services.

Letter to trusts, health authorities and practitioners about three changes to General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) in England. (1) Regular Point of Service checks. (2) Stronger regulation of domiciliary visits. (3) Revised GOS forms for patients, as of 19 April 2001. The changes were drawn up by the optical services section and the Directorate of the Counter Fraud Services in consultation with people in the optical profession.

The Eye Care Services Steering Group helps to develop Department policy on eye care, and finds ways to bring general values (for instance the emphasis on patient choice) to the specific area of ophthalmic services. Contact Derek Busby on 020 7633 4159 or email:

• derek.busby@doh.gsi.gov.uk