Terms of Reference

Terms of Reference

August 2005

Health minister Rosie Winterton announced the GOS Review in August 2005 with the following terms of reference set out by the Department:

To review the scope, structure and organisation of General Ophthalmic Services, their fit with a modernised NHS, in light of the planned move to performers list arrangements*, and make recommendations, if necessary, for reform. 
In drawing up recommendations, which should be within existing resources, the review should consider:

• the aim and scope of increasing work undertaken in primary care to reduce pressure on secondary care and inappropriate referral to secondary care and the role of primary care professionals in diagnosing and managing eye conditions;
• the anticipated increase in the role of primary care professionals in low vision, glaucoma, cataracts and age related macular degeneration;
  the provision of greater choice to patients;
• the planned extension of prescribing responsibilities to optometrists;
  patients’ needs for integrated services across health, social services and the voluntary sector and the management of long term conditions;
• the position of dispensing opticians in relation to the NHS;
  the role of optometrists with a special interest;
• the arrangements for achieving best value from the current £340m General Ophthalmic Services budget and the implications for Hospital and Community Health Services expenditure;
• the composition and remit of Local Optical Committees.