21 May 2019
The Welsh Government has confirmed a 1% rise to the Welsh Eye Care Services (WECS) fee with effect from 1 April.
However, just as the Department of Health and Social Care confirmed in England earlier this year, the fee payable for NHS sight tests will remain frozen at £21.31 for the period from 1 April 2019– 31 March 2020. This fee has remained unchanged since 2015–2016.
The Welsh Government confirmed an increase to the grant for continuing education and training undertaken by optometrists and ophthalmic medical practitioners, rising to £561. It added that the allowance paid to supervisors of pre-registration trainees would increase to £3620.
The NHS domiciliary fee and all other NHS optical values and supplements also remain unchanged, Optometry Wales confirmed to OT.
Speaking about the WECS uplift, chief executive of Optometry Wales, Sali Davis, told OT: “We are really pleased to announce the 1% fee uplift to the WECS. We continue to demonstrate the value of community-based clinical work using optometrists and now contact lens opticians who are operating at the top end of their clinical competencies.
“We continue to negotiate on behalf of the profession and this year we achieved parity with our GP, pharmacist and dental colleagues in Wales.”
However, just as the Department of Health and Social Care confirmed in England earlier this year, the fee payable for NHS sight tests will remain frozen at £21.31 for the period from 1 April 2019– 31 March 2020. This fee has remained unchanged since 2015–2016.
The Welsh Government confirmed an increase to the grant for continuing education and training undertaken by optometrists and ophthalmic medical practitioners, rising to £561. It added that the allowance paid to supervisors of pre-registration trainees would increase to £3620.
The NHS domiciliary fee and all other NHS optical values and supplements also remain unchanged, Optometry Wales confirmed to OT.
Speaking about the WECS uplift, chief executive of Optometry Wales, Sali Davis, told OT: “We are really pleased to announce the 1% fee uplift to the WECS. We continue to demonstrate the value of community-based clinical work using optometrists and now contact lens opticians who are operating at the top end of their clinical competencies.
“We continue to negotiate on behalf of the profession and this year we achieved parity with our GP, pharmacist and dental colleagues in Wales.”
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