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At nation level, a robust legal framework, which includes General Our route map
Ophthalmic Services (GOS) regulations, underpins primary eye care.
This means patients benefit from accessible sight testing, vision
correction and case-finding services across all four nations.
FODO members deliver over 18 million eye
In England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, enhanced examinations each year across the UK. When our
primary eye care and hospital eye care services are organised on a
nation-by-nation basis but all build on the solid foundation of the members commit to change, we can make change
core primary eye care service. happen. With our members, we will continue to lead
by example and work with governments and sector
partners to achieve the following goals.

This system has proven its worth for patient and public
protection while enabling safe innovation, technological Tackle preventable sight loss due to delays in care
advancement and advancing levels of practice. We must We will:
ensure it is protected, supported and evolves in safe and
proportionate ways to meet the needs of individual patients • Work with patient groups and other stakeholders to prevent
and populations. That is why FODO: patients from suffering severe or permanent sight loss because of
delays in care at any point in the pathway.
• Strongly supports the • Strongly supports informed
existing regulatory patient choice and freedom Protect and advance core primary eye
framework for primary eye for patients to vote with their care services
care services across the UK. feet as a critical element in
patient protection. We will:
• Will continue to advocate for • Protect and support patients by advocating to preserve the
only evidence-based change Opticians Act and associated regulations and orders unless there is
and proportionate risk-based robust evidence for change.
regulation for all eye care
services across the UK. • Continue to protect nationally negotiated GOS systems,
including increased fees and grants, as the fairest and most
cost-effective means of delivering high-standard first-line eye
care in all four UK nations.
• Work with health systems to tackle health inequalities by
improving access to eye care for homeless people and people
who depend on domiciliary eye care services.
• Support primary eye care providers who wish to continue
specialising only in providing world-class sight testing and case-
finding, referring patients for further care where appropriate.
Primary Eye Care Audiology
Pharmacy
GP
Dentist

32 FODO UK The future of primary eye care – principles and priorities 33