The National Health Service (Charges, Payments and Remission of Charges) (Uprating, Miscellaneous Amendments and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2014

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Regulations 2000 (“the 2000 Regulations”), the National Health Service (Travel Expenses and Remission of Charges) Regulations 2003 (“the 2003 Regulations”), the National Health Service (Dental Charges) Regulations 2005 (“the 2005 Regulations”), the Primary Ophthalmic Services Regulations 2008 (“the 2008 Regulations”) and the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 2013 (“the 2013 Regulations”).

The 2000 Regulations include the prescription and other charges for drugs, appliances and other items supplied as part of the National Health Service (NHS) in England. Regulation 2 amends the 2000 Regulations to increase the standard prescription charge for drugs and appliances from £7.85 to £8.05. The charge for the supply of elastic hosiery is increased from £15.70 to £16.10. There are also increases to the charges for fabric supports and wigs of around 2.7%, but regulation 3 sets out a transitional provision that relates to fabric supports and wigs ordered before 1st April 2014.

The 2003 Regulations make provision for England relating to people in receipt of state benefits or on low incomes being reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in obtaining certain NHS services and being exempt from paying certain NHS charges. Regulation 4 amends regulation 5 of the 2003 Regulations to extend the entitlement of recipients of universal credit, and certain members of their families, to full remission of certain NHS charges and payment of certain NHS travel expenses without making a claim so that their entitlement extends to the period which starts on 6th April 2014 and ends on 31st October 2014. The Regulations previously referred to the period starting on 29th April 2013 and ending on 5th April 2014.

The 2005 Regulations include the charges that are levied for NHS dental and orthodontic treatment in England. Regulation 5 amends the 2005 Regulations to increase the charges for Band 1 courses of treatment from £18.00 to £18.50, for Band 2 courses of treatment from £49.00 to £50.50 and for Band 3 courses of treatment from £214.00 to £219.00. Band 1A charges in respect of interim care courses of treatment provided by contractors participating in the Capitation and Quality Scheme 2 pilot schemes are also increased from £18.00 to £18.50, in line with Band 1 charges.

The 2008 Regulations make provision for England in relation to entitlement to a free NHS sight test. The 2013 Regulations provide for a scheme for England for payments to be made by means of a voucher system in respect of costs incurred by certain categories of persons in connection with sight tests and the supply, replacement and repair of optical appliances. Regulation 6 amends regulation 3 of the 2008 Regulations, and regulation 7 amends regulation 8 of the 2013 Regulations, to extend the entitlement of recipients of universal credit, and certain members of their families, to free NHS sight tests and vouchers for the supply of optical appliances so that their entitlement extends to the period which starts on 6th April 2014 and ends on 31st October 2014. Both the 2008 and the 2013 Regulations previously referred to the period starting on 29th April 2013 and ending on 5th April 2014.