Additional AOP resource introduced to help resolve Capita late payment issues.

The Association of Optometrists (AOP) has appointed a dedicated resource to help resolve ophthalmic payment issues that some contractors are facing with Capita.
 
Speaking of the new resource, Henrietta Alderman, AOP Chief Executive said: “For some time the AOP and other bodies have been working to resolve the issues with Capita and we felt that progress was being made. Unfortunately, we now have evidence from Capita to show that the latest payment run has caused a spike in the number of issues, and calls into the AOP and LOCSU support that.
 
We take our members' concerns very seriously, and we believe that the introduction of a dedicated temporary person to help resolve issues on behalf of contractors is needed.  We’d like to acknowledge all the work that LOCSU, in particular, has done to resolve payment issues so far, and the new AOP resource will also work closely with LOCSU. This is an interim solution and we will continue to press Capita and NHS England for a more permanent resolution. ”
 
The resource is available to all contractors, regardless of AOP membership.
 
Contractors should have the following information to hand when they contact the AOP:

• Payments outstanding
• Practice area
• Where claims are sent to
• Practice details
• Practice contact (name, phone and email)
• Perceived risk to business – high, medium, low

Queries will be prioritised based on greatest need.
 
Mr John Hall will start at the AOP from Tuesday 2 August and can be contacted on [email protected] or 020 7549 2004.

Mr Hall can also be contacted for issues relating to applications to the ophthalmic performers list and General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) forms/supply portal.

For more information, please contact Vicky Vine, Communications Director at the Association of Optometrists, on [email protected] or telephone 020 7549 2046.

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Notes to Editors

Association of Optometrists 

The Association of Optometrists (AOP) is the leading professional membership organisation for optometrists and other optical professionals in the UK. We support our community of more than 16,500 members to fulfil their professional roles to protect the nation’s eye health. As a founding member of the Optical Confederation we work with others to improve eye health for the public good. For more information, visit www.aop.org.uk