Practice owners urged to take part in OFNC NHS sight test survey

The Optometric Fees Negotiating Committee (OFNC) has today (22 August) launched a survey into the length of time it takes optometrists to deliver an NHS sight test.

It is hoped that the survey will help the committee accurately demonstrate the time needed to complete an NHS eye test.

Responses will also support one strand of the OFNC’s negotiations on behalf of General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) contractors in England.

Although NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care collect data on patient episodes for various healthcare professions, this is not currently the case for primary eye care.

The OFNC has noted that “It is therefore important to provide data on the current time taken to deliver an NHS sight test so that they better understand resource requirements for delivering GOS.”

The AOP is urging practice owners to take part in the survey.

The association’s chief executive, Adam Sampson, said: “This evidence will provide a useful point of negotiation on behalf of all GOS contractors in England – we encourage all practice owners to take part.”

The survey will close at midnight on Monday 19 September. It can be accessed here. 

A guide to completing the survey can be downloaded here.