New year, new start

In response to its long-running service provision issues, Capita has introduced a new, fully trained General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) payment processing team.

National Performers List applications from 2016 are also being processed as a matter of urgency, and current pre-reg optometrists are advised that they can submit their applications three months in advance.

Capita also apologised to practitioners and practices experiencing delays in the processing of other Performers List administration tasks, such as change of address requests.

In its January bulletin, Capita outlined that: “We’ve recently recruited additional people into the performers list team, which will help improve the processing speed and handling of all types of performers list queries and change requests.”

As part of the updates to its service, Capita will produce itemised statements from February for GOS3 and GOS4 forms.

Association of Optometrists chief executive, Henrietta Alderman, welcomed Capita’s introduction of a GOS payment team.

“For many of our members, who are suffering as a result of ongoing problems, this is vital and long overdue,” she said.

In recent months LOCSU has been working closely with the PCSE operational staff and senior managers to find solutions that are effective and will work long-term.

“A great deal of activity has been going on behind the scenes and we are glad to see that this is now having a positive impact,” Ms Alderman highlighted.