24 August 2015
The Welsh government has confirmed a 1% increase to the NHS sight test fee in Wales.
The fee, which represents the amount reimbursed to a practice for an NHS sight test, will rise from £21.10 to £21.31, effective from 1 April this year.
An identical increase for domiciliary visits in the country sees the fee rise from £58.29 to £58.87.
Speaking about the minimal rise, chief executive of Optometry Wales, Sali Davis, told OT: “As per last year, we are again disappointed with the increase. It is becoming more and more difficult to deliver excellent eye care services in the community with such a derisory increase. We continue to lobby Welsh government to acknowledge the pressures that High Street practices are under in 2015. Even with the Wales Eye Care Service, practices are struggling to deliver these vital services.”
In addition, the Welsh government agreed an increase to the CET grant which can be claimed by optometrists for continuing education undertaken in 2014, rising from £529 to £535. This hike represents a 1% fee increase also.
Practitioners in Wales supervising pre-reg optometrists will be entitled to receive payment of £3,445, rising 1% from £2,409 in 2014.
The increase in Wales mirrors the 1% rise announced last Thursday (13 August) by the UK government for sight tests performed in England.
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