1.—(1) The prescribed qualifications which a medical practitioner must possess for the purposes of section 71 of the Act (arrangements for general ophthalmic services) are that the medical practitioner has (at the date of consideration of this application under paragraph 2) recent and adequate experience and either—
(a)has held—
(i)an appointment in the health service, otherwise than under Part 4 of the National Health Service Act 1946(1), Part 2 of the National Health Service Act 1977(2), or Part 6 of the Act, with the status of consultant ophthalmologist, or
(ii)an appointment for a period of 2 years or more of equivalent status as ophthalmic surgeon or assistant ophthalmic surgeon on the staff of an approved ophthalmic hospital, or
(b)has—
(i)obtained the Membership of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, or any approved higher degree or qualification, and
(ii)held one or more ophthalmic appointments in an approved ophthalmic hospital for a period totalling 2 years or more, which must include tenure for at least 6 months of a residential appointment or an appointment with duties comparable with those of a residential appointment.
(2) The tenure for 6 months of a residential or comparable appointment referred to in sub-paragraph (1)(b)(ii) is not required in the case of a medical practitioner who has been fully registered for at least 7 years and whose experience is such as to make that requirement unnecessary.
(3) In this paragraph, “approved” means approved by the Ophthalmic Qualifications Committee or by an appeal committee under paragraph 3.