NEWS 21 AIO
AN INDEPENDENT VIEW To NHS, or not to NHS? There has been a lot of discussion on various online forums of late about whether or not independents should opt out of the NHS GOS contract and go completely private. Indeed, there are a number of practices that have already made the move and, generally, the feedback from these practices has been positive. As a result, there is a growing number of practices considering dropping the NHS contract. Bringing the optical community back together
The Association for Independent Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians (AIO) is aiming to bring the profession back together as a community at its autumn conference next month. “One of the negative aspects for the world of optics over the last 18 months has been the loss of all the physical events that bring people together as a professional community,” said AIO chairman, Christian French. “Arguably it is independents who are most greatly affected as they often operate with little regular interaction with fellow practitioners. “Whether it is 100% Optical – and in pre-Covid times Optrafair – or much smaller intimate affairs such as the NEG or AIO conferences, there is a real feeling of community when members of the optical world gather together,” continued Christian. “And it goes beyond the common bond of patient care and even language; it is about comradery and friendship. With the best will in the world, Zoom, Teams, Google Meet and so on do not work for exhibitors. “Seeing frames in person, playing with new instruments and assessing equipment just can’t be replicated virtually. AIO members have been unequivocal in their desire to get back to physical conferences and it is significant that the events planned for the autumn all seem to be focused on the independent sector. “The AIO will hold its 2021 conference at Chesford Grange, Kenilworth, on 9 and 10 October. It is not the case, however, that we should simply revert to the world of events pre-Covid. Double vaccination notwithstanding, the effects of Covid can still be extremely harmful for the vulnerable, regardless of age. Conference organisers will be particularly sensitive about ensuring that their events are staged so as to afford the greatest protection and safety for delegates and exhibitors alike.
‘To NHS or not to NHS’ raises a lot of questions and issues. First of all: is it feasible for all independents to go completely private? The answer to that is: no. There are many practices where location and surrounding demographics dictate that it is impossible to make such a move; indeed, some of these practices may be almost entirely dependent on the GOS contract. Equally, the communities they serve are often highly dependent on these practices to access good quality eye health care. It is also the case that some practices that could make the move, feel that to opt out of the contract and adopt a wholly private model is in some ways abandoning those people in their communities that are dependent on accessing NHS services. Further, the range of NHS eyecare services in England can differ hugely from one postcode to another depending on which services the local clinical commissioning group has decided to put in place. This can make a significant difference when making a decision to opt out of the NHS contract. However, there are real attractions to not being constrained by the pitiful GOS fee and the tension that it creates in respect of offering patients a thorough eye examination where others only deliver a simple 20-minute refraction service. Not to mention all the bureaucracy of claiming under the contract and frequently having to chase for payment. Yet making a decision to go entirely private is not easy, and can even be rather frightening. Every practice is different, and the considerations may vary greatly from one location to another; there is no magic formula that fits all. The subject of going private (or not) will form a dedicated workstream at the AIO conference on 9 and 10 October with an expert panel session and one-onone clinics. To book a place or find out more, contact Lin by emailing lin@aiovision.org or calling 0800 1300 486.
“A combination of asking for evidence of double vaccination and negative Covid tests, and a scrupulous approach to cleanliness and sanitisation are likely to be the order of the day. This will certainly be the case for the AIO conference,” Christian concluded. Find out more about the 2021 AIO conference at www.aiovision.org Vision Now SEPTEMBER 2021
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