The National Health Service (Amendments relating to Optical Charges and Payments) (Wales) Regulations 2009

Title, commencement, interpretation and application

1.—(1) The title of these Regulations is the National Health Service (Amendments relating to Optical Charges and Payments) (Wales) Regulations 2009 which come into force on 1 April 2009.

(2) These Regulations apply in relation to Wales.

(3) In these Regulations —

• “the Optical Regulations” (“y Rheoliadau Optegol”) means the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 1997(1);

• “the 1986 Regulations” (“y Rheoliadau 1986”) means the National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) Regulations 1986(2).

Amendment of regulation 1 of the Optical Regulations

2.  In regulation 1(2) of the Optical Regulations (citation, commencement and interpretation), in the definition of “NHS sight test fee” —

(a) for “£54.67” substitute “£55.93”; and

(b) for “£19.80” substitute “£20.26”.

Amendment of regulation 8 of the Optical Regulations

3.  In regulation 8(3)(l)(ii) (eligibility — supply of optical appliances) for “£15,050” substitute “£15,276”.

Amendment of regulation 19 of the Optical Regulations

4.  Regulation 19 of the Optical Regulations (redemption value of voucher for replacement or repair) is amended as follows —

(a) in paragraph (1)(b), for “£51.90” substitute “£52.90 ”; and

(b) in paragraph (3), for “£13.40” substitute “£13.70 ”.

Amendments to the Schedules to the Optical Regulations

5.—(1) Schedules 1 to 3 to the Optical Regulations are amended in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation.

(2) In Schedule 1 (voucher letter codes and face values-supply and replacement) in column (3) of the table (face value of voucher), for each amount specified in column (1) of the table below substitute the amount specified in relation to it in column (2) of the table below:

(1)	(2)
Old amount	New amount
£35.50	£36.20
£54.00	£55.10
£79.00	£80.60
£178.40	£182.00
£61.40	£62.70
£78.10	£79.70
£101.20	£103.30
£196.10	£200.10
£182.70	£186.40
£51.90	£52.90

(3) In Schedule 2 (prisms, tints, photochromic lenses, small and special glasses and complex appliances)—

(a) in paragraph 1(1)(a), for “£11.60” substitute “£11.80”;

(b) in paragraph (1)(1)(b), for “£13.90” substitute “£14.20 ”;

(c) in paragraph 1(1)(c), for “£3.90” substitute “£4.00 ”;

(d) in paragraph 1(1)(d), for “£4.40” substitute “£4.50 ”;

(e) in paragraph 1(1)(e), for “£58.50”, “£51.90” and “£28.00” substitute “£59.70”, “£52.90” and “£28.60” respectively;

(f) in paragraph 1(1)(g), for “£58.50” substitute “£59.70 ”;

(g) in paragraph 2(a), for “£13.40” substitute “£13.70 ”; and

(h) in paragraph 2(b), for “£33.90” substitute “£34.60 ”.

(4) For Schedule 3 (voucher values-repair), substitute the Schedule 3 set out in the Schedule to these Regulations.

Transitional Provision

6.  The amounts substituted by regulations 4 and 5 apply only in relation to a voucher accepted or used pursuant to regulation 12 or regulation 17 of the Optical Regulations on or after 1 April 2009.

Amendment of regulation 13 of the 1986 Regulations

7.  In regulation 13(2)(l)(ii) of the 1986 Regulations (sight-tests eligibility) for “£15,050” substitute “£15,276”.

Edwina Hart

Minister for Health and Social Services, one of the Welsh Ministers

10 March 2009