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The article comments on the exclusion of optometrists from a British paper that lists medical practitioners who can diagnose and treat allergy. Optometrists have once again been overlooked by the British Department of Health in its 2006 paper. There is no reason optometrists should not promote the investigation and treatment skills they have.

The article presents information on the 36th Association of Optometrists' (AOP) Hospital Optometrists Annual Conference, held in Heathrow, England, from November 5-7, 2010. Nilpah Shah presented the results of a study of visual acuity measured using vanishing optotypes and conventional letters while Michael Grossland and Roger Anderson presented on reading and writing papers and posters. Information on other sessions is presented.

The article discusses the white paper "The General Ophthalmic Services (GOS)," which examines the aspects of GOS in England and Wales. Topics include the call for urgent review of the GOS claiming that optometrists only perform basic tests as compliance with the National Health Service (NHS) England, the warning of NHS to withdraw the fees that were inappropriately paid and actions to be taken by the NHS ahead of the May 2015 general election.

The article highlights the meeting of the GOC which was held in London, England on June 28, 2007. Members received updates on the white paper working groups and progress within the British Department of Health where they asked to endorse the proposal for fitness to practise hearings to be moved to an independent adjudication body. A new unified competency framework for optics was also proposed to take on board best practice from the Optometrists Association Australia.

The article focuses on the issues concerning the General Optical Council fees in Great Britain as of November 2005. Renewal fees will not rise provided there is no last minute rush of those who still use paper to attain continuing education and training accreditation before the 2007 deadline. The Council heard that efforts to agree a 2006-2007 registration fee at the same level as the current year could be halt by a minority of practitioners who continue to use written answer sheets, rather than go online.