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General Ophthalmic Services: increases to NHS sight test fee and NHS optical voucher values and tax credit limits from April 2005
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Document type:Dear Colleague Letter
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Author:Department of Health, Derek Busby
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Published date:16 March 2005
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Primary audience:Directors,Professionals
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Publication format:Electronic only
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Gateway reference:4870
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Pages:10
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Copyright holder:Crown copyright
Letter from Derek Busby to PCT Directors of Finance, NHS Trust Directors of Finance Optometrists, Ophthalmic Medical Practitioners and Dispensing Opticians writing to notify the increases in the NHS sight test fee, optical voucher values and the income threshold for those receiving tax credits.
Summary
1. I am writing to notify you of increases in:
- the NHS sight test fee
- optical voucher values
- the income threshold for those receiving tax credits
2. Please could you bring these increases to the attention of all staff dealing with general ophthalmic services; clinicians, optometrists, ophthalmic medical practitioners and other staff concerned with the hospital eye service; and stationery clerks.
3. Please pay GOS contractors the increased sight test fee for sight tests carried out on or after 1 April 2005 and pay suppliers the increased voucher values in respect of all vouchers presented by patients on or after 1 April 2005.
4. Please note that the Statutory Instrument amending the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) and (General Ophthalmic Services) Regulations has been laid and is available at www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk under SI number 2005 483 for those of you who wish to hold a copy.
Increased sight test fee for Optometrists and Ophthalmic Medical Practitioners
5. Following consultations with representatives of the professions, the Secretary of State has determined that the NHS sight test fee for Optometrists and Ophthalmic Medical Practitioners will be increased to £18.39 from 1 April 2005.
6. For superannuation purposes, please note that for Ophthalmic Medical Practitioners the practice expense component of the sight test will be £4.78 from 1 April 2005.
Increased NHS domiciliary visiting fees for Optometrists and Ophthalmic Medical Practitioners from 1 April 2005
6. The fees payable to Optometrists and Ophthalmic Medical Practitioners for NHS domiciliary visits carried out on or after 1 April 2005 will be £32.38 for the first and second patients seen at one visit and £8.11 for the third and subsequent patients.
Changes to the NHS sight test and domiciliary visiting fees for HC3 holders from 6 May 2005
7. From 6 May 2005 entitlements for patients who hold partial exemption certificate HC3 should be calculated using the following amounts:
- a private sight test carried out at an ophthalmic practice up to a maximum of a NHS sight test fee of £18.39.
- a private domiciliary sight test up to the maximum of a NHS domiciliary sight test fee of £50.77.
The Statement
8. The Statement published in accordance with regulation 10 of the NHS (General Ophthalmic Services) Regulations 1986 is amended as follows:-
- In Appendix A, paragraph 1 (NHS sight test carried out by Optometrists and Ophthalmic Medical Practitioner) for 'on or after 1 April 2003 £17.26 and on or after 1 April 2004 £17.82' there is substituted 'on or after 1 April 2005 £18.39.
- In Appendix A, paragraph 2 (NHS domiciliary visit carried out by an Optometrist and Ophthalmic Medical Practitioner) for 'on or after 1 April 2003 a visiting fee of £30.39 will be payable for the first and second patient seen at one visit and £7.61 for the third and subsequent patient seen at the same visit and on or after 1 April 2004 a visiting fee of £31.37 will be payable for the first and second patient seen at one visit and £7.86 for the third and subsequent patient seen at the same visit' there is substituted 'on or after 1 April 2005 a visiting fee of £32.38 will be payable for the first and second patient seen at one visit and £8.11 for the third and subsequent patient(s) seen at the same visit'
9. A revised Determination is set out in Annex A and the current Appendix A to the Statement is set out in Annex B.
NHS Optical Voucher Values
10. Optical voucher values and supplements have been increased on average by 2.5%. Details are in the Annexes to this guidance as follows:
- Annex 1: Directions under the NHS (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations.
- Annex 2: Directions under the National Health Service and Community Care Act
- Annex 3: Revised spectacle voucher values
- Annex 4: Revised voucher values for repair and replacement.
Tax Credits
11. The income threshold for entitlement to an NHS sight test and optical voucher via tax credits will increase from £14,600 to £15,050 from 6 April 2005.
Yours Sincerely
Derek Busby
Head of Ophthalmic Services
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