News

Optometry Scotland Awards Press Release

Optometry Scotland Awards the Young Stars at Glasgow Caledonian University, click here for the full press release.

Optometry Scotland Statement on Eye Examination Time

In response to recent queries, Optometry Scotland (OS) would like to remind all Optometrists and their employers of the following:

All relevant tests/procedures required for a GOS eye examination should be carried out depending on the presenting patient's signs/symptoms reported to the Optometrist at the appointment. Patient care is the most important factor and this should not be compromised. It is also the case that some practitioners depending on experience levels and indeed some patients may require longer to carry out the eye examination than others and it is the responsibility of the Optometrist and their employer to decide how they manage their diaries and the duration of the eye examination.

Optometry Scotland would also like to remind the profession of this quote from the Scottish GOS regulations PCA (O) 2010 (1):

"The minimum time involved in providing a primary eye examination should be 30 minutes for those patients who attend for routine examinations with no specific symptoms and no prescription for glasses/contact lenses. For patients where additional tests and procedures are required because of their age or presenting sign and symptoms the timing of the primary eye examination will increase."

OS would like to take this opportunity to remind all practices that 20 eye examinations (Primary and Supplementaries) is the limit that can be claimed for one working day (7.5 hours) and that payment verification visits from Practitioner Services are currently underway to check that Optometrists/practices are following the GOS Regulations with regards to GOS eye examination fee claims.

Peter Carson is the new Chair of Optometry Scotland

Optometry Scotland's Vice Chair Peter Carson was promoted to Chair at Optometry Scotland's Annual General Meeting. The official handover from Gill Syme to Peter Carson took place at the Glasgow Radisson Hotel on 10 May 2010.

Peter is a practising optometrist with a Specsavers franchise in Ayr and has been vice chairman for the past 18 months. To allow Peter to focus all his efforts on Optometry Scotland he will give up his positions as AOC chair for Ayrshire and Arran and as the Optometric Advisor for Ayrshire and Arran.

Peter commented: "I am delighted to be taking on the role as chair of OS and congratulate Gill on the excellent job she has done. I truly hope to continue the excellent work done by Gill Syme during her time as Optometry Scotland chair. I have been impressed by the way she has handled meetings with the Scottish Government Health Department and how she has forged relationships with ophthalmology colleagues in the Scottish Eyecare Group. We now aim to further integrate optometry into Scottish primary healthcare and ensure it is the first port of call for community based eyecare. This is already happening to an extent but can be further developed by maximising the GOS contract, raising the standard of the optometry profession and working with Scottish healthcare colleagues."

Sam Watson (Boots Regional Manager) was also named as Vice Chair of Optometry Scotland.

Dave Quigley (Specsavers) will return for a second term on the OS council as an observer and will be joined by John Fox (Optical Express), David Bonellie (Independent) and Fiona Anderson (Independent DO).

FAQs on the new GOS Regulations

Optometry Scotland has released FAQs on the new GOS Regulations that came into force on 1st April 2010. These are available to view or download from the GOS page within the Optometrists & Dispensing Opticians section of the webiste, click here to go directly to the GOS page.

No increase in voucher values

Optometry Scotland has received confirmation that there will be no increase in voucher values for 2010, they will remain as they are just now. A note will be sent out to all in Scotland by SGHD in due course.

Optometry Scotland Annual General Meeting 2010

The OS AGM will be held in the Glasgow Radisson Hotel, 301 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G2 8DL on Monday 10 May 2010. At this AGM a new Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Optometry Scotland will be elected.

The AGM will start at 12pm for lunch, with the meeting starting at 1pm.

GOS Regulations Published

The GOS Regulations have been published and will be circulated soon.

You can view these for the time being on the Scottish Statutory Instrument section of the OPSI website, click here and going down to no.86.

There have also been some amendments to the NICE guidelines advice from the AOP and you can views these amendments here .

GOS Regulations Roadshows presented by Optometry Scotland and funded by NES

As you may be aware Optometry Scotland (OS) have been negotiating the amendments to the GOS Regulations with the Scottish Government. We are hopeful that we are nearly there with these amendments and are waiting on the Scottish Government's approval.
The amendments are due to be in place by 1st April 2010.

OS will be running the roadshows throughout Scotland, which are funded by NES, and free to attend. They will provide you with all the information you will require for you to comply with the amended GOS regulations. We can confirm that we have booked the roadshows to take place throughout March in the following areas:

• 10 March - Aberdeen - The Suttie Centre, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD
• 11 March - Inverness - Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Church Street, Inverness, IV1 1DX
• 16 March - Ayr - Ayr Racecourse, Whitletts Road, Ayr, KA8 0JE
• 22 March - Perth - Huntingtower Hotel, Crieff Road, Perth, PH1 3JT
• 25 March - Edinburgh - Apex Hotel, 31-35 Grassmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 2HS
• 29 March - Glasgow - Marriott Hotel, 500 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8RR

Optometry Scotland Newsletter Released (March)

The latest Optometry Scotland Newsletter has now been released and is available to view or download here.

New GOS Regulations

The new GOS regulations due to be announced on 1st April 2010, the Optometry Scotland website will keep you updated on all the developments.

Eyecare 3000 Conference

Optometry Scotland will be exhibiting at the forthcoming Eyecare 3000 Conference held at the Glasgow Marriott on 17 and 18 January 2010.

Don't miss this opportunity to have an informal chat with OS regarding the imminent change in GOS regulations, NICE guidelines and anything else you wish to ask?

Happy New Year

Optometry Scotland would like to wish everyone all the best for 2010.

Newsletters

The Optometry Scotland Newsletters for 2009 are available to view or download here.

News Archive

Looking for a news story from 2009? Check out the News Archive, click here.