NHS GOS services

R9.1.1 Professional practice – GOS contracts

Practice owners and managers holding a General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) contract must comply with the National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) Regulations 2008 and subsequent amendments.

They must ensure that:
– Appropriate clinical governance systems are in place
– Staff are suitably qualified and appropriately registered
– Claims and payments comply with NHS requirements
– Records support all activity claimed
– Administrative and reporting standards are met

Practice leaders must remain informed of updates issued by NHS England, NHS Wales, NHS Scotland, Health and Social Care (Northern Ireland), and the Department of Health and Social Care. Amendments may affect eligibility criteria, record-keeping, complaints handling, and contractual variation, suspension or termination.

Failure to comply may result in contract sanctions, recovery of payments or regulatory investigation.

References – R9.1.1
National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) Regulations 2008.
NHS Act 2006.

R9.2.1 Professional practice – individual obligations

Registrants must:

1. Work within professional scope
Practise within the Opticians Act 1989 and GOC Standards of Practice.
– Maintain appropriate registration and CPD.

2. Dispense correctly to eligible GOS patients
– Dispense accurately to the issued prescription.
– Personally dispense to legally specified patient groups (including children under 16 and patients registered sight impaired or severely sight impaired).
– Ensure appliances meet required safety and quality standards.

3. Apply voucher and claims rules correctly
– Verify and record patient eligibility.
– Apply voucher values and lens categories accurately.
– Ensure documentation meets NHS audit standards.

4. Maintain accurate records
– Keep clear, contemporaneous records supporting NHS claims.
– Ensure dispensing records align with voucher category claimed.

5. Comply with clinical governance requirements
Including infection control (see R4), safeguarding (see R3), complaints handling and data protection (see R11).

6. Uphold professional integrity
– Ensure honesty in all NHS-funded activity.
– Avoid misleading claims or inappropriate commercial influence.
Raise concerns where patient safety or misconduct is identified.

References – R9.2.1
Opticians Act 1989.
General Optical Council (2025). Standards of Practice.

R9.3.1 Professional practice – integrity in NHS services

Practices providing NHS services must operate a zero-tolerance approach to bribery.

Registrants and staff must not:
– Offer, request or accept inducements that could improperly influence clinical or commercial decisions
– Accept gifts or benefits that may influence, or appear to influence, professional judgement

Any financial or personal interest that could affect decision-making must be declared in accordance with NHS conflict-of-interest expectations.

All GOS claims must be truthful and supported by accurate records. Manipulation of voucher values, falsification of eligibility or inflated claims may constitute fraud under the Fraud Act 2006 and offences under the Bribery Act 2010.

Suspected bribery or fraud must be reported to the Local Counter Fraud Specialist or appropriate authority.

References – R9.3.1
Bribery Act 2010.
Fraud Act 2006.
General Optical Council (2025). Standards of Practice.

R9.4.1
Making Accurate Claims (MACE) Guide – England
PCSE Ophthalmic Payments

R9.4.2 Small Glasses Supplement (England)

The Small Glasses Supplement may be claimed only where:
– The patient clinically requires a small frame
– The boxed centre size is 55mm or less
– The frame is specially designed, adapted or manufactured for clinical need

The supplement must not be claimed where the choice is based on preference or fashion.

A clear clinical justification must be recorded in the patient record and the GOS3 form completed accurately.

R9.5.1

Making Accurate Claims – Wales

R9.6.1

Making Accurate Claims – Scotland

R9.7.1

Making Accurate Claims – Northern Ireland

R9.8.1 Professional practice – verification

Post-Payment Verification (PPV) is used across the UK to ensure GOS services have been delivered and claimed correctly.

Practices must:
– Maintain accurate, contemporaneous clinical and dispensing records
– Retain eligibility evidence
– Ensure claims reflect services actually provided
– Provide requested documentation within required timeframes
– Co-operate with remote or on-site verification

Outcomes may include recovery of payments, corrective action or referral to counter-fraud services where serious concerns arise.

PPV is intended to protect public funds and support compliance, not penalise genuine administrative error.

R9.9.1

GOS Vouchers at a Glance 

R9.10.1 Professional practice – entitlement

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, individuals are entitled to a NHS-funded sight test if they meet criteria set out in GOS Regulations.

Core entitlement categories include:

Age-based eligibility
– Under 16
– 16–18 in full-time education
– Aged 60 or over

Medical eligibility
– Diagnosed diabetes
– Diagnosed glaucoma
– At risk of glaucoma (as defined in regulations)
– Aged 40+ with first-degree relative with glaucoma
– Registered sight impaired or severely sight impaired

Benefit-related eligibility
– Income Support
– Income-based JSA
– Income-related ESA
– Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
– Universal Credit (subject to income conditions)
– Tax Credit qualifying categories
– Valid HC2 (full help) or HC3 (partial help) certificate

Complex lens eligibility
Patients requiring complex lenses qualify for a voucher and, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, a NHS sight test.

Domiciliary eligibility
Eligible patients unable to leave home unaccompanied due to illness or disability may receive a domiciliary sight test.

Scotland: All residents are entitled to NHS-funded eye examinations; eligibility criteria primarily affect voucher entitlement.

References – R9.10.1
National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) Regulations 2008.