The National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) and (General Ophthalmic Services) Amendment Regulations 2005
Citation, commencement, interpretation and application1.
(1)
These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) and (General Ophthalmic Services) Amendment Regulations 2005 and shall come into force on 1st April 2005 except for regulations 2 and 3(2) which shall come into force on 6th April 2005.
(2)
These Regulations apply in relation to England.
(3)
In these Regulations—
Amendment to the Ophthalmic Regulations2.
In regulation 13(2)(l)(ii) of the Ophthalmic Regulations (sight tests-eligibility) for “£14,600”, substitute “£15,050”.
Amendments to the Optical Regulations3.
(1)
In regulation 1(2) of the Optical Regulations (citation, commencement and interpretation), in the definition of “NHS sight test fee”—
(a)
for “£49.19” substitute “£50.77”; and
(b)
for “£17.82” substitute “£18.39”.
(2)
In regulation 8(3)(l)(ii)(eligibility-supply of optical appliances) for “£14,600”, substitute “£15,050”.
(3)
In regulation 19 (redemption value of voucher for replacement or repair)—
(a)
in paragraph (1)(b), for “£46.80” substitute “£48.00”; and
(b)
in paragraph (3), for “£12.10” substitute “£12.40”.
Amendments to the Schedules to the Optical Regulations4.
(1)
In Schedule 1 to the Optical Regulations (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 |
£32.10 | £32.90 |
£48.80 | £50.00 |
£71.30 | £73.10 |
£161.00 | £165.00 |
£55.40 | £56.80 |
£70.40 | £72.20 |
£91.30 | £93.60 |
£177.00 | £181.40 |
£164.90 | £169.00 |
£46.80 | £48.00 |
(2)
In Schedule 2 to the Optical Regulations (prisms, tints, photocromic lenses, small and special glasses and complex appliances)—
(a)
in paragraph 1(1)(a), for “£10.40” substitute “£10.70”;
(b)
in paragraph 1(1)(b), for “£12.50” substitute “£12.80”;
(c)
in paragraph 1(1)(c), for “£3.50” substitute “£3.60”;
(d)
in paragraph 1(1)(d), for “£4.00” substitute “£4.10”;
(e)
in paragraph 1(1)(e), for “£52.80”, “£46.80” and “£25.40” substitute “£54.10”, “£48.00” and “£26.00” respectively;
(f)
in paragraph 1(1)(g), for “£52.80” substitute “£54.10”;
(g)
in paragraph 2(a), for “£12.10” substitute “£12.40”; and
(h)
in paragraph 2(b), for “£30.50” substitute “£31.30”.
(3)
For Schedule 3 to the Optical Regulations (voucher values-repair), substitute the Schedule 3 set out in the Schedule to these Regulations.
Transitional Provision5.
The amounts substituted by regulations 3(3) and 4 shall apply only in relation to a voucher accepted or used pursuant to regulation 12 or regulation 17 of the Optical Regulations on or after 1st April 2005.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Health
SCHEDULESchedule 3 to the Optical Regulations as substituted by these Regulations
“SCHEDULE 3VOUCHER VALUES-REPAIR
(1)
(2)
Nature of Repair
Letter of Codes-Values
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
Repair or replace-ment of one lens
10.25
18.80
30.35
76.30
22.20
29.90
40.60
84.50
78.30
Repair or replace-ment of two lens
£20.50
£37.60
£60.70
£152.60
£44.40
£59.80
£81.20
£169.00
£156.60
Repair or replace-ment of:
The front of a frame
£10.50
£10.50
£10.50
£10.50
£10.50
£10.50
£10.50
£10.50
£10.50
A side of a frame
£6.25
£6.25
£6.25
£6.25
£6.25
£6.25
£6.25
£6.25
£6.25
The whole frame
£12.40
£12.40
£12.40
£12.40
£12.40
£12.40
£12.40
£12.40
£12.40”
These Regulations amend the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 1997 (“the Optical Regulations”) which provide for payments to be made by means of a voucher system in respect of costs incurred by certain categories of persons in connection with the supply, replacement and repair of optical appliances.
In regulation 2 these Regulations also amend regulation 13 of the National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) Regulations 1986 to increase the amount used as the basis for calculating entitlement to a free sight test under those Regulations.
Regulation 3 amends the Optical Regulations to increase the NHS sight test fee. It amends regulation 8 of the Optical Regulations to increase the amount used as the basis for calculating eligibility for a contribution to the cost of an optical appliance under those Regulations. It also amends regulation 19 to increase the redemption value of a voucher issued towards the cost of replacement of a single contact lens and to increase the maximum contribution by way of voucher to the cost of repair of a frame.
Regulation 4 and the Schedule amend the Schedules of the Optical Regulations to increase the value of vouchers issued towards the costs of the supply and replacement of glasses and contact lenses, to increase the additional values for vouchers for prisms, tints, photocromic lenses and special categories of appliances and to increase the value of vouchers issued towards the cost of the repair and replacement of optical appliances. The rate of increase in the Schedule to these Regulations is approximately 2.5%.
These Regulations do not impose a cost on business.