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Following the optician giant Boots Opticians decision to move their insurance policies with the AOP across to the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians, the Association of Optometrists has taken the step of contacting all of the franchisees of the eye care division of Boots, by letter, to advise them of the changes to their working environment that this could cause. The AOP are looking to make sure that all companies involved within this move are fully aware of the consequences this change in indemnity insurer would bring.
In what has been described as a 'house cleaning' exercise to make sure that all of its practices are working in the same way across the board, Boots have taken the decision to transfer franchisee insurers from their current relationship with the AOP across to FODO, with whom they already work with in conjunction with their owned practices and a number of existing franchisees also. Boots Opticians are hoping this streamlining will help them achieve greater consistency throught out the company as a whole.
The AOP's move to increase awareness amongst the branches affected by this change centres around the argument that in leaving behind their insurance protection they are also leaving behind a number of important benefits that many may not be aware of. The highlighted point is that of an insurance cover drop of £3m, from £5m to £2m, although the FODO are eager to press home that their cover would increase to £5m by 01/12. The AOP also show concern at the company's appeared reshuffling of importance within the practices from people to company, with Boots quoted as stating that the move was, "primarily in place to protect the practice rather than the individual practitioners".