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Documents and communications about ophthalmic (eye care) services policy.
Published: 30 May 2007
Letter detailing 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 2006 CET which is payable this year.
Published: 17 January 2007
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.
Published: 30 November 2006
This guidance replaces any previous guidance, in particular HC(89)12, on charges for HES patients who require sight tests and/or optical appliances.
Published: 30 November 2006
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.
Published: 26 July 2006
(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.
Published: 23/03/2006
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.
Published: 10/08/2005
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.
Published: 14/03/2005
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).
Published: 24/02/2005
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 following text represents 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 July 2004.
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
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:
A review of local examples of community based eye care services, which documents a series of case studies, is now available. These case studies complement the recently published commissioning toolkit for community based eye care services and have been developed in partnership with:
