Increase to eye care funding confirmed in Wales

Optometry services in Wales have received a £3.9m boost following successful contract negotiations between the Welsh Government, NHS Wales, and Optometry Wales, it has been confirmed.

The uplift to funding, which will be reflected in 2024–2025, was announced following extensive reforms to primary eye care services in Wales over the past year. The additional funding will be invested in supporting the expanding scope of clinical services in primary care optometry, reducing the demand on hospital eye care services and increasing the capacity for specialist eye care provision.

Announcing the funding, Optometry Wales said: “This collaborative effort marks a significant step forward in enhancing eye care services across Wales.”

In a statement, Optometry Wales highlighted that it has “long championed the ability of optometrists and dispensing opticians to deliver high-quality services in their local communities.”

It added: “This new investment comes a year after significant reforms to optometry services in Wales and the implementation of the new optometry contract, highlighting the Welsh Government’s commitment to addressing the growing demand on hospital eye services, and the available skills within the optometry and dispensing optician workforce.”

Optometry Wales acknowledged that “there is still work to be done to ensure a balanced approach across all General Ophthalmic Services pathways in Wales,” but emphasised that “the outcome of this year’s negotiations guarantees further support for all service providers, enhancing the clinical services that optometrists and dispensing opticians can offer.”

A letter issued by Welsh Government’s primary care division last Friday (14 February) stated the fee uplifts will take effect from 21 October 2024. Within the letter was also confirmation of CPD and pre-registration supervisor grant fees.

Effective from 21 October last year, the General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) fee rises to £44.

To encourage contractors to release optometrists to complete a Professional Higher Certificate in Glaucoma, practices will be reimbursed for each clinical session an optometrist attends in order to attain the qualification, up to a maximum of 40 sessions (20 days). This will be paid at a rate of £125 per session.

The pre-registration supervisor grant fee increases to £7500.

The CPD allowance for optometrists for education performed in 2024 rises to £763.29, an increase from £610.63 in 2023. For dispensing opticians, it increases from £338.10 in 2023 to £422.63 in 2024.

The AOP has welcomed the uplift “and the push to secure the delivery of more clinical work in primary care optometry services.”

AOP clinical and policy director, Dr Peter Hampson, said: “This announcement shows the commitment in Wales to address the growing demand on hospital eye services and enhance the delivery of additional pathways within optometry to improve eye care services.

He highlighted: “The uplift will improve the training and retention of pre-registration optometrists. It will empower community optometrists and dispensing opticians to deliver high quality care, and enable that all-important shift of more care from the hospital to the community to enhance eye care services across Wales.”