National Health Service Act 1977

General ophthalmic services E+W+S

38 Arrangements for general ophthalmic services. E+W+S

[F1 (1)] [F2 It is the duty [F3 of every Primary Care Trust and] of every [F4 Health Authority], in accordance with regulations, to arrange as respects their [F5 area]] with medical practitioners having the prescribed qualifications, [F6 and ophthalmic opticians for securing the testing][F7 by them of the sight—

(a) of a child;

(b) of a person whose resources fall to be treated under the regulations as being less than his requirements or as being equal to his requirements; or

(c) of a person of such other description as may be prescribed.

(2) In this section—

• “child” means—

(a) a person who is under the age of 16 years; or

(b) a person who is under the age of 19 years and receiving qualifying full-time education; and

• “qualifying full-time education” means full-time instruction at a recognised educational establishment or by other means accepted as comparable by the Secretary of State, and for the purpose of this definition—

(a) “recognised educational establishment” means an establishment recognised by the Secretary of State as being, or as comparable to, a school, college or university; and

(b) regulations may prescribe the circumstances in which a person is or is not to be treated as receiving full-time instruction.

(3) Regulations under this section may direct how a person’s resources and requirements are to be calculated and, without prejudice to the generality of this subsection, may direct that they shall be calculated—

(a) by a method set out in the regulations;

(b) by a method described by reference to a method of calculating or estimating income or capital specified in an enactment other than this section or in an instrument made under an Act of Parliament or by reference to such a method but subject to prescribed modifications;

(c) by reference to an amount applicable for the purposes of a payment under an Act of Parliament or an instrument made under an Act of Parliament; or

(d) by reference to the person’s being or having been entitled to payment under an Act of Parliament or an instrument made under an Act of Parliament.

(4) Descriptions of persons may be prescribed for the purposes of subsection (1) above by reference to any criterion and, without prejudice to the generality of this subsection, by reference to any of the following criteria—

(a) their age;

(b) the fact that a prescribed person or a prescribed body accepts them as suffering from a prescribed medical condition;

(c) the fact that a prescribed person or a prescribed body accepts that a prescribed medical condition from which they suffer arose in prescribed circumstances;

(d) their receipt of benefit in money or in kind under any enactment or their entitlement to receive any such benefit; and

(e) the receipt of any such benefit by other persons satisfying prescribed conditions or the entitlement of other persons satisfying prescribed conditions to receive such benefits.

(5) Regulations which refer to an Act of Parliament or an instrument made under an Act of Parliament may direct that the reference is to be construed as a reference to that Act or instrument—

(a) as it has effect at the time when the regulations are made; or

(b) both as it has effect at that time and as amended subsequently.

(6) Regulations may provide that a person—

(a) whose sight is tested by a person who provides general ophthalmic services; and

(b) who is shown during the testing or within a prescribed time after it to fall within subsection (1) above,

shall be taken for the purposes of the testing to have so fallen immediately before his sight was tested; and the testing shall be treated—

(i) for the purposes of any arrangements under this section;

(ii) for the purposes of remuneration in respect of the testing; and

(iii) for any such other purpose as may be prescribed,

as a testing of sight under this Act.

(7) Regulations shall define the services for the provision of which arrangements under this section are to be made and the services so defined are in this Act referred to as “general ophthalmic services”.]

Textual Amendments

F1 The first paragraph of s. 38 renumbered as s. 38(1) by Health and Medicines Act 1988 (c. 49, SIF 113:2), s. 13(1)

F2 Words substituted by S.I. 1985/39, art. 7(11)

F3 Words in s. 38(1) inserted (1.10.2002) by National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 (c. 17), ss. 2(5), 42(3), Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 17; S.I. 2002/2478, art. 3(1)(d)

F4 Words in s. 38(1) substituted (28.6.1995 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 17, ss. 2(1)(3), 8(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 27(a) (with Sch. 2 paras. 6, 16)

F5 Words in s. 38(1) substituted (28.6.1995 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 17, ss. 2(1)(3), 8(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 27(b) (with Sch. 2 paras. 6, 16)

F6 Words substituted by Health and Social Security Act 1984 (c. 48, SIF 113:1), s. 1(3)

F7 S. 38(1)(a)-(7) and the words “by them of the sight—” substituted by Health and Medicines Act 1988 (c. 49, SIF 113:2), s. 13(1)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 38(1) modified (prosp.) by 1997 c. 46, s. 41(3)(11), Sch. 2 Pt. II para. 79

39 Regulations as to s. 38. E+W+S

[F8 (1)] Regulations may provide as to the arrangements to be made under section 38 above, and shall include provision—

[F9 (a) for the preparation and publication by each Primary Care Trust and by each Health Authority of a list of medical practitioners and a list of ophthalmic opticians who undertake to provide general ophthalmic services for persons in the area of the Primary Care Trust or Health Authority;]

(b) for conferring a right, subject [F10 to [F11 subsections (2) and (3) below, to] any provision made under section 43C below and] to the provisions of this [F12 Part of this] Act relating to the disqualification of practitioners, on any medical practitioner having the prescribed qualifications, [F13 or ophthalmic] optician who wishes to be included in the appropriate list, to be so included;

(c) for conferring on any person a right to choose in accordance with the prescribed procedure the medical practitioner or ophthalmic optician by whom his sight is to be tested, or from whom any prescription for the supply of optical appliances is to be obtained . . . F14 ;

(d) for the removal from the list of medical practitioners, [F15 or ophthalmic] opticians undertaking to provide general ophthalmic services for persons in any [F16 area] of the name of any one in whose case it has been determined in such manner as may be prescribed that he has never provided, or has ceased to provide, such general ophthalmic services for persons in that [F16 area].

[F17 (2) The regulations may, in particular, make provision in relation to—

(a) grounds on which a [F18 Primary Care Trust or] Health Authority may, or must, refuse to include a medical practitioner or an ophthalmic optician in a list referred to in subsection (1)(a) (including grounds corresponding to the conditions referred to in section 49F(2), (3) and (4) as read with section 49H below);

(b) information which must be supplied to a [F19 Primary Care Trust or] Health Authority by a person included or seeking inclusion in such a list (or by arrangement with him);

(c) the supply to a [F20 Primary Care Trust or] Health Authority by an individual—

(i) who is included, or seeking inclusion, in such a list, or

(ii) who is a director of a body corporate or who is a member of a limited liability partnership included, or seeking inclusion, in such a list,

of a criminal conviction certificate under section 112 of the Police Act 1997 (c. 50), a criminal record certificate under section 113 of that Act or an enhanced criminal record certificate under section 115 of that Act;

(d) grounds on which a [F21 Primary Care Trust or] Health Authority may defer a decision whether or not to include a person in such a list;

(e) the disclosure by a [F22 Primary Care Trust or] Health Authority, to prescribed persons or persons of prescribed descriptions, of information of a prescribed description about applicants for inclusion in such a list, and refusals by the [F22 Primary Care Trust or] Health Authority to include them; and

(f) criteria to be applied in making decisions under the regulations.

(3) If regulations made by virtue of subsection (2)(a) provide that a [F23 Primary Care Trust or] Health Authority may refuse to include a person in such a list, they must also provide for an appeal (by way of redetermination) to the FHSAA against the [F24 decision of the Primary Care Trust or of the Health Authority] .]

[F25 (4) The regulations may include provision as to the making of declarations about—

(a) financial interests;

(b) gifts above a prescribed value; and

(c) other benefits received.

(5) Before making regulations by virtue of subsection (4), the Secretary of State must consult such organisations as he thinks fit appearing to him to represent persons providing general ophthalmic services.]

Textual Amendments

F8 S. 39 renumbered as s. 39(1) (22.11.2001 for certain purposes for E., 14.12.2001 for all other purposes (except those relating to the provision of pharmaceutical services under the 1977 Act) for E. and 1.7.2002 for W.) by 2001 c. 15, ss. 20(5), 70(2) (with ss. 64(9), 65(4)); S.I. 2001/3738, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II; S.I. 2002/1475, art. 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1

F9 S. 39(1)(a) substituted (1.10.2002) by National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 (c. 17), ss. 2(5), 42(3), Sch. 2 Pt. 1 para. 12(2); S.I. 2002/2478, art. 3(1)(d)

F10 Words in s. 39(b) inserted (1.4.2000) by 1999 c. 8, ss. 9(4), 67(1); S.I. 1999/2793, art. 2(3)(b); S.I. 2000/1041, art. 2(a)

F11 Words in s. 39(1)(b) inserted (22.11.2001 for certain purposes for E., 14.12.2001 for all other purposes (except those relating to the provision of pharmaceutical services under the 1977 Act) for E. and 1.7.2002 for W.) by 2001 c. 15, ss. 20(5)(a), 70(2) (with ss. 64(9), 65(4)); S.I. 2001/3738, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II; S.I. 2002/1475, art. 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1

F12 Words inserted by Health Services Act 1980 (c. 53, SIF 113:2), Sch. 1 para. 52

F13 Words substituted by Health and Social Security Act 1984 (c. 48, SIF 113:1), s. 1(6), Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 1(b)

F14 Words repealed by Health and Social Security Act 1984 (c. 48, SIF 113:1), ss. 1(4), 24, Sch. 8 Pt. I

F15 Words substituted by Health and Social Security Act 1984 (c. 48, SIF 113:1), s. 1(6), Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 1(c)

F16 Words in s. 39(d) substituted (28.6.1995 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 17, ss. 2(1)(3), 8(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 28 (with Sch. 2 paras. 6, 16)

F17 S. 39(2)(3) inserted (22.11.2001 for certain purposes for E., 14.12.2001 for all other purposes (except those relating to the provision of pharmaceutical services under the 1977 Act) for E. and 1.7.2002 for W.) by 2001 c. 15, ss. 20(5)(b), 70(2) (with ss. 64(9), 65(4)); S.I. 2001/3738, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II; S.I. 2002/1475, art. 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1

F18 Words in s. 39(2) inserted (1.10.2002) by National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 (c. 17), ss. 2(5), 42(3), Sch. 2 Pt. 1 para. 12(3); S.I. 2002/2478, art. 3(1)(d)

F19 Words in s. 39(2) inserted (1.10.2002) by National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 (c. 17), ss. 2(5), 42(3), Sch. 2 Pt. 1 para. 12(3); S.I. 2002/2478, art. 3(1)(d)

F20 Words in s. 39(2) inserted (1.10.2002) by National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 (c. 17), ss. 2(5), 42(3), Sch. 2 Pt. 1 para. 12(3); S.I. 2002/2478, art. 3(1)(d)

F21 Words in s. 39(2) inserted (1.10.2002) by National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 (c. 17), ss. 2(5), 42(3), Sch. 2 Pt. 1 para. 12(3); S.I. 2002/2478, art. 3(1)(d)

F22 Words in s. 39(2) inserted (1.10.2002) by National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 (c. 17), ss. 2(5), 42(3), Sch. 2 Pt. 1 para. 12(3); S.I. 2002/2478, art. 3(1)(d)

F23 Words in s. 39(3) inserted (1.10.2002) by National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 (c. 17), ss. 2(5), 42(3), Sch. 2 Pt. 1 para. 12(4)(a); S.I. 2002/2478, art. 3(1)(d)

F24 Words in s. 39(3) substituted (1.10.2002) by National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 (c. 17), ss. 2(5), 42(3), Sch. 2 Pt. 1 para. 12(4)(b); S.I. 2002/2478, art. 3(1)(d)

F25 S. 39(4)(5) inserted (1.7.2002 for W., otherwise prosp.) by 2001 c. 15, ss. 23(4), 70(2) (with ss. 64(9), 65(4)); S.I. 2002/1475, art. 2(1)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 S. 39 extended by Health and Medicines Act 1988 (c. 49, SIF 113:2), s. 17(1)

40 Medical practitioners with qualifications prescribed under s. 38. E+W+S

The power conferred by section 38 above (in relation to general ophthalmic services) to prescribe the qualifications to be possessed by any medical practitioner includes a power—

(a) to prescribe a requirement that the practitioner shall show to the satisfaction of a committee recognised by the Secretary of State for the purpose that he possesses such qualifications, including qualifications as to experience, as may be mentioned in the regulations; and

(b) to confer on a person who is dissatisfied with the determination of such a committee, a right of appeal to a committee appointed by the Secretary of State, and to provide for any matter for which it appears to the Secretary of State to be requisite or expedient to provide in consequence of the conferring of that right.