OPTOMETRY Scotland yesterday (Tuesday September 12) welcomed the Scottish Government’s announcement of a 6% increase in the fee paid to optometrists in Scotland for carrying out NHS eye tests.
Fees for all General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) eye exams undertaken in Scotland on or after 1 April 2023 will see the increase (including domiciliary visiting fees) for delivery of core primary care services to the public.
The increase is in alignment with recommendations made by the Doctors and Dentists Pay Review Body (DDRB), which will see current General Dental Services (GDS) and General Medical Services (GMS) fees for dentists and GPs also uplifted by 6%.
This year’s award comes following extensive consultation with Optometry Scotland, which negotiates with the Scottish Government on behalf of its members and is a further increase from the 4.5% uplift agreed in 2022.
Julie Mosgrove, chair of Optometry Scotland, commented: “We welcome these increases and thank the Scottish Government for such commitment to recognising our sector’s ongoing efforts in delivering the best possible standard of community eyecare for the people of Scotland following a particularly challenging few years.
“Increasing the GOS fee ultimately improves the accessibility of free eye examinations across the country, allowing for the most vulnerable groups within Scottish society to have equal access to world renowned standards of primary healthcare. These examinations also contribute to early detection of health issues, which can provide a real advantage to securing effective and appropriate treatment within the community,” she added.
Optometry Scotland is the representative body for the optical industry in Scotland, which has a proven track record of successfully advocating for optical professions.
The current membership is made up of around 80 businesses representing 330 practices, including independent and multiple opticians in both city centre locations and remote and rural areas.
For more information about Optometry Scotland, visit: https://www.optometryscotland.org.uk/.
