Covid 19 – Resumption of Patient Signatures on GOS Forms

25 August 2021

The DHSC has informed OFNC that the COVID-19 suspension of the requirement for patient signatures on GOS forms will end on 31 August 2021. This means that patient signatures will be required on all GOS forms from Wednesday 1 September.

Patient signatures are also being reintroduced for NHS dental patients and in pharmacies from the same date.

Practices and practitioners are reminded that we are still in the College of Optometrists Amber phase and that rigorous infection prevention and control (IPC) measures continue to be required in line with government, College of Optometrists and ABDO guidance.

We will continue to press Government for a further extension of the 31 August deadline in relation to domiciliary patients but there are no indications at this point that that is likely to be successful. We will, of course, inform you immediately if the situation changes.

Note for Editors

The Optometric Fees Negotiating Committee (OFNC) is the national negotiating body for eye care in England with the Westminster Parliament, the Department of Health and Social Care, and NHS England-NHS Improvement. It comprises the leaders of the UK representative bodies: ABDO, AOP, FODO and BMA (for OMPs) and works in partnerships with the College of Optometrists and the General Optical Council.