The National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 1992

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 1992 and shall come into force on 1st April 1992.

(2) In these Regulations—

(a) “the principal Regulations” means the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 1989(1).

(b) “the 1986 Regulations” means the National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Regulations 1986(2).

Amendment of regulation 1 of the principal Regulations

2.  In regulation 1(2) of the principal Regulations (interpretation)—

(a) in the definition of “complex appliance” sub-paragraph (b) is omitted;

(b) in the definition of “NHS sight test fee”—

(i) in sub-paragraph (a) for “£32.15” there is substituted “£33.75”; and

(ii) in sub-paragraph (b) for “£12.15” there is substituted “£12.75”.

Amendment of regulation 20 of the principal Regulations

3.  In regulation 20 of the principal Regulations (redemption value of voucher replacement or repair)—

(a) in paragraph (1)(b) for “£32.80” there is substituted “£35.90”; and

(b) in paragraph (3)(i) for “£8.40” there is substituted “£9.00”.

Amendment of Schedules to the principal Regulations

4.—(1) For Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations (voucher letter codes and face values) there is substituted the Schedule 1 set out in Part I to the Schedule to these Regulations.

(2) For Schedule 2 to the principal Regulations (voucher values-repair) there is substituted the Schedule 2 set out in Part II of the Schedule to these Regulations.

(3) In Schedule 3 to the principal Regulations (prisms, tints, photochromic lenses, small glasses and special frames and complex appliances)—

(a) in paragraph 1(1)(a) (single vision lens with prism) for “£4.20” there is substituted “£4.60”;

(b) in paragraph 1(1)(b) (other lens with prism) for “£5.20” there is substituted “£5.70”;

(c) in paragraph 1(1)(c) (single vision tinted lens) for “£2.10” there is substituted “£2.30”;

(d) in paragraph 1(1)(d) (other tinted lens) for “£2.60” there is substituted “£2.85”;

(e) in paragraph 1(1)(e) (small glasses)—

(i) in sub-head (i) for “£36.00” there is substituted “£39.40”,

(ii) in sub-head (ii) for “£32.00” there is substituted “£35.00”, and

(iii) in sub-head (iii) for “£17.30” there is substituted “£18.90”;

(f) in paragraph 1(1)(f) (photochromic lenses) for “£2.10” there is substituted “£2.30” and for “£2.60” there is substituted “£2.85”;

(g) in paragraph 1(1)(g) (specially manufactured frames) for “£36.00” there is substituted “£39.40”;

(h) in paragraph 2(a) (minimum complex appliance payment - single vision lenses) for “£3.70” there is substituted “£4.00”; and

(i) in paragraph 2(b) (minimum complex appliance payment other lenses) for “£19.70” there is substituted “£21.60”.

Amendment of the 1986 Regulations

5.  In regulation 2(1) of the 1986 Regulations (interpretation) in the definition of “complex appliance” sub-paragraph (ii) is omitted.

Application of Regulations

6.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the amendments made by regulations 3 and 4 of, and the Schedule to, these Regulations shall apply only in relation to a voucher—

(a) accepted or used pursuant to regulation 12 or regulation 18 of the principal Regula tions on or after 1st April 1992; or

(b) sent to a Health Board pursuant to regulation 14(2)(c) of the principal Regulations in respect of cost incurred on or after that date.

(2) Where—

(a) before 1st April 1992, a voucher has been issued under regulation 9(2) or (7), 10(3), 11(2) or 17(2) or (3) of the principal Regulations in relation to—

(i) a prescription for the supply of an appliance which was a complex appliance only by virtue of its containing a lenticular lens; or

(ii) the replacement or repair of such an appliance; or

(b) on or after the 1st April 1992, a voucher is issued under regulation 10(4) of the principal Regulations to replace one issued prior to that date in relation to a prescrip tion for the supply of an appliance which was a complex appliance only by virtue of its containing a lenticular lens,

the principal Regulations shall apply to the use or redemption of that voucher in connection with the supply, replacement or repair of that appliance, or to the issue of that replacement voucher, on or after the 1st April 1992 as if regulations 2, 3 and 4 of, and the Schedule to, these Regulations had not come into force.

(3) Where, on or after 1st April 1992—

(a) a testing of sight takes place pursuant to an application made before that date under regulation 14A of the 1986 Regulations; and

(b) at the time of such application, the applicant was an eligible person for the purposes of those Regulations under regulation 14(1)(d) thereof only by virtue of his need to wear an appliance containing a lenticular lens,

the 1986 Regulations shall apply in relation to that testing of sight as if regulation 5 of these Regulations had not come into force.

Michael B. Forsyth

Minister of State, Scottish Office

St Andrew’s House,

Edinburgh

5th March 1992