Fee uplift for Welsh Optometrists providing for Wales Eye Care Services 2021-22

Fee uplift for Welsh Optometrists providing for Wales Eye Care Services 2021-22

An agreement with Optometry Wales has been reached on the payment uplift to optometrists providing the Wales Eye Care Services for 2021-22.

The Minister for Health and Social Services has approved these recommendations which are set out below. Optometrists will receive a 1.5% uplift for delivering the Eye Health Examination Wales, and the Low Vision Service Wales fee will remain unchanged at £80.00 for 2021-22.

Health boards will manage the cost of delivering this increase in payment through their recurrent revenue allocations as part of the pay uplift settlement assumptions.
Health Boards were directed under the Eye Health Examination Service Joint Committee (Wales) Directions 2016 to offer the Eye Health Examination Wales Service to all
optometry practices. Health Boards will continue to offer this service between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022, and will administer the 1.5% uplift to optometrists who will be paid
£63.68 per Band 1, £42.46 per Band 2 and £21.22 per Band 3 to deliver this service.

Health Boards were directed under the Low Vision Service Joint Committee (Wales) Directions 2016 to offer the Low Vision Service Wales to accredited optometry practices.

Health Boards will continue to offer this service from 1 April 2021. The fee will remain at £80.00 for each low vision assessment.

All payments will be reviewed as we progress the contract reform work along with all other optometry fees and service.