The National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2009

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2009 and come into force on 7th August 2009.

(2) In these Regulations “the principal Regulations” means the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 1998(1).

Amendment of the principal Regulations

2.—(1) The principal Regulations are amended as follows.

(2) After Regulation 8(2) insert—

8(2A).(1) A person described in paragraph (2) is prescribed as being a person for whom payments are to be made by the Health Board for the supply of an optical appliance for which a prescription has been given in consequence of a testing of sight under the Act.

(2) A person referred to in paragraph (1) is a person who at the time of the payment for the supply of an optical appliance on or after 6th April 2009, is a member of a family—

(i)which satisfies the criteria specified in regulation 8(3)(k)(i); and

(ii)where the relevant income of the person or persons to whom an award of tax credit was made under section 14 of the Tax Credits Act 2002(2) is determined at the time of the award to exceed £15,050, but not to exceed £15,276.

(3) A person prescribed in paragraph (1) is an eligible person for the purposes of Parts IV and V.

(3) In regulation 8(4)(c)(3) (circumstances where a person’s resources are treated as less than his requirements), after “and (l)” insert “, and 8(2A)”.

(4) In regulation 12(6)(a)(4) (use of vouchers for the supply of optical appliances) for “or (d)”, substitute “or (d), or (2A)”.

(5) In regulation 12A(1)(5) (notice of entitlement), after “8(3)(k)” insert “or 8(2A)”.

(6) In regulation 15(1)(6) (eligibility – replacement or repair)—

(a)in sub‑paragraph (b) for “or (e)” substitute, “or (e), or sub‑paragraph (c) of this paragraph”; and

(b)after sub‑paragraph (b) insert—

(c)a person referred to in sub paragraph (b) includes a person who at the time of the payment for the replacement or repair on or after 6th April 2009 is a member of a family described in regulation 8(2A)(2)..

(7) In regulation 16(2)(a) and (3)(a)(7) (completion of vouchers for replacement or repair) for “or (d)”, substitute “or (d), or (2A)”.

(8) In regulation 20(1) (payments to patients in respect of the supply, replacement or repair of optical appliances) after “8(2)” insert “, 8(2A)”.

(9) In regulation 20(2) (payments to patients in respect of the supply, replacement or repair of optical appliances), for “or (d)”, substitute “or (d), or (2A)”.

ALEX NEIL

Authorised to sign by the Scottish Ministers

St Andrew’s House,

Edinburgh

5th August 2009