(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Scotland) Regulations 2001 (“the principal Regulations”) which provide for the making and recovery of charges for drugs, medicines and appliances supplied by chemists providing pharmaceutical services, doctors providing services under a general medical services contract or section 17C arrangements, or by Health Boards to out-patients.
Regulation 2(2) increases the charge in the principal Regulations for drugs, medicines and appliances (other than those specified in the Schedules) from £6.40 to £6.50.
Regulation 2(3) increases the sum payable in respect of a pre-payment certificate from £33.40 to £33.90 for a 4 month certificate, and from £91.80 to £93.20 for a 12 month certificate.
Regulation 2(4) increases the various charges set out in the Schedules to the principal Regulations. The charge for elastic stockings is increased from £6.40 to £6.50 each (from £12.80 to £13.00 per pair) and that for tights £12.80 to £13.00. The charge for surgical brassieres is increased from £21.50 to £21.80 and for fabric supports is increased from £32.50 to £33.00. The charges for modacrylic wigs and partial human hair wigs are increased from £53.10 to £53.90 and from £140.15 to £142.30 respectively. The charge for full human hair wigs is increased from £204.90 to £208.10.
Regulation 3 provides that the increase in charges made by regulation 2(2) to (4) shall be in respect of supplies made on or after 1st April 2005 or where examinations leading to the supply of an appliance take place on or after that date and, in respect of payments of sums for pre-payment certificates, where the pre-payment certificate itself was applied for on or after 1st April 2005.