2008 No. 488
Health And Personal Social Services
The Charges for Drugs and Appliances (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008
Made 3rd December 2008
Coming into operation 1st January 2009

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 98 and 106 of, and Schedule 15 to, the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972, with the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel.
See S.I. 1999/283 (N.I. 1) Article 3(6)
S.I. 1972/1265 (N.I. 14); the relevant amending instruments are S.I. 1984/1158 (N.I. 8) Article 17 and Schedule 6, S.I. 1986/2229 (N.I. 24) Article 14, S.I. 1988/594 (N.I. 2) Article 14, S.I. 1988/2249 (N.I. 24) Article 7, S.I. 1991/194 (N.I. 1) Article 34 and Part II of Schedule 5, S.R. 1999 No.11 and 2001 c.3 (N.I.), Section 48

1 Citation, commencement and interpretation
1 These Regulations may be cited as the Charges for Drugs and Appliances (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 and shall come into operation on 1st January 2009.
2 In these Regulations “the principal Regulations” means the Charges for Drugs and Appliances Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997.
S.R. 1997 No. 382; the relevant amending instrument is S.R. 2007 No.140

2 Amendment of regulation 3 of the principal Regulations
In regulation 3 of the principal Regulations (supply of drugs and appliances by chemists) –
(a) in paragraph (1)(a) and (b) and paragraph (3) for “£6.85” substitute “£3.00”;
(b) in paragraph (1)(a) for “£13.70” substitute “£6.00”;
(c) in paragraph (1A)(a) and (b) for “£6.85” substitute “£3.00”; and
(d) in paragraph (1A)(a) for “£13.70” substitute “£6.00”.

3 Amendment of regulation 4 of the principal Regulations
In regulation 4 of the principal Regulations (supply of drugs and appliances by doctors) –
(a) in paragraph (1)(a) and (b) and paragraph (3) for “£6.85” substitute “£3.00”; and
(b) in paragraph (1)(a) for “£13.70” substitute “£6.00”.

4 Amendment of regulation 5 of the principal Regulations
In regulation 5 of the principal Regulations (supply of drugs and appliances by a Board or a HSS trust) –
(a) in paragraph (1)(a) and (d) and paragraph (3) for “£6.85” substitute “£3.00”; and
(b) in paragraph (1)(a) and (c) for “£13.70” substitute “£6.00”.

5 Amendment of regulation 9 of the principal Regulations
In regulation 9 of the principal Regulations (pre-payment certificates) in paragraph (5) for “£35.85” substitute “£9.00” and for “£98.70” substitute “£25.00”.

6 Amendment of Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations
For Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations substitute the following —

“SCHEDULE 1 CHARGES FOR FABRIC SUPPORTS AND WIGS
 Regulation 5
Column(1) Specified Appliance	Column (2) Specified Charge
Surgical Brassiere	£3.00
Abdominal or Spinal Support	£3.00
Stock Modacrylic Wig	£3.00
Partial Human Hair Wig	£3.00
Full Bespoke Human Hair Wig	£3.00
	”

7 Transitional provisions
Where, on or after 1st January 2009—
(a) any appliance specified in Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations is supplied pursuant to an order given before that date; or
(b) any pre-payment certificate is granted under regulation 9 of the principal Regulations pursuant to an application under that regulation which was received before that date,
the principal Regulations shall have effect in relation to that supply or, as the case may be, that grant as if regulations 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of these Regulations had not come into operation.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety on 3rd December 2008
(L.S.) C. Jendoubi A senior officer of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
The Department of Finance and Personnel approves the foregoing Regulations
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance and Personnel on 3rd December 2008
(L.S.) M. McIvor A senior officer of the Department of Finance and Personnel

EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Charges for Drugs and Appliances Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 (“the principal Regulations”), which provide for the making and recovery of charges for drugs and appliances supplied by doctors and chemists providing pharmaceutical services, and by hospitals and HSS trusts to out-patients.
The charge for each item on prescription is reduced from £6.85 to £3.00. The sums prescribed for the grant of pre-payment certificates of exemption from prescription charges are reduced from £35.85 to £9.00 for a 4 month certificate and from £98.70 to £25.00 for a 12 month certificate.
The charge for elastic stockings is reduced from £6.85 to £3.00 for each item (from £13.70 to £6.00 per pair) and for tights from £13.70 to £6.00.
The charge for a partial human hair wig is reduced from £150.75 to £3.00 and for a stock modacrylic wig from £57.00 to £3.00. The charge for a full bespoke human hair wig is reduced from £220.50 to £3.00. The charge for a surgical brassiere is reduced from £23.10 to £3.00 and for an abdominal or spinal support from £34.95 to £3.00.
Transitional arrangements are made in respect of pre-payment certificates, and appliances ordered, before 1st January 2009 (regulation 7).