2011 No. 2906 (W.310)

NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE, WALES

The National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2011

Made

Laid before the National Assembly for Wales

Coming into force

The Welsh Ministers make the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 124 and 203(9) and (10) of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 20061.

Title, commencement, application and interpretation1

1

The title of these Regulations is the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2011 and they come into force on 27 December 2011.

2

These Regulations apply in relation to Wales.

3

In these Regulations, “the principal Regulations” (“y prif Reoliadau”) means the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 19892.

Amendments to the principal Regulations2

1

The principal Regulations are amended as follows.

2

After the definition of “refugee” in regulation 1(2) (citation, commencement and interpretation) insert the following definition—

  • “the relevant period” means the period from 9 July 2012 to 12 September 2012;

3

In regulation 5 (exemption from charges for treatment the need for which arose during the visit) —

a

after the word “companion” in paragraph (f), delete the full stop and insert “; or”; and

b

at the end of the regulation insert the following paragraph —

g

an individual who is in the United Kingdom as part of the “Games Family”, as defined in Schedule 3, during the relevant period.

4

In Schedule 2 insert in the appropriate alphabetical position the word—

  • Jersey

5

After Schedule 2 insert the following Schedule—

SCHEDULE 3Games Family

Regulation 5(g)

“Games Family” —means the group of individuals who are taking part or involved in the Olympic or Paralympic Games in London 2012 (“the Games”), and who have been given a letter code for the purpose of receiving free treatment the need for which arose during the visit to the United Kingdom.

This includes the following groups:

  • Athletes — comprising athletes and their supporting team officials participating in the Games as accredited members of a National Olympic Committee or National Paralympic Committee delegation;

  • Technical officials — comprising the team of individuals that officiates the field of play and athlete areas at the Games;

  • Press — comprising the Games accredited representatives of photographic and written press;

  • Broadcasters — comprising the Olympic Broadcast Service and all the Games- related rights holding broadcasting organisations;

  • Olympic and Paralympic family — comprising the International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee organisations (and their constituents), Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers (or equivalent).

Lesley GriffithsMinister for Health and Social Services, one of the Welsh Minsiters

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 1989 (S.I.1989/306) (“the principal Regulations”).

Regulation 5 of the principal Regulations sets out the circumstances in which an overseas visitor will be exempt from charges for treatment the need for which arose during the overseas visitor’s visit to the United Kingdom. Regulations 2(2) and (3) of these Regulations amend the principal Regulations to provide an exemption for individuals who are part of the Games Family during the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London 2012 between 9 July 2012 and 12 September 2012.

Regulation 2(5) of these Regulations inserts a new Schedule 3 into the principal Regulations which defines what is meant by “Games Family”.

Regulation 2(4) of these Regulations inserts Jersey into the list of countries or territories in Schedule 2 to the principal Regulations in respect of which the United Kingdom Government has entered into a reciprocal agreement.