Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.–(1) These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2008 and come into force on 1st April 2008.

(2) In these Regulations "the principal Regulations" means the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 1998(2).

Amendment of the principal Regulations

2.–(1) The principal Regulations are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 8(3)(e) (eligibility - supply of optical appliances)(3) for-

(a) "specified in regulation 3(1)(b)" substitute "referred to in regulation 3(1)(b)(ii)"; and

(b) "2007" substitute "2008(4)".

(3) In regulation 19 (redemption value of voucher for replacement or repair)(5)-

(a) in paragraph (1)(b) for "£50.50" substitute "£51.90";

(b) in paragraph (3)(a) for "£13.00" substitute "£13.40"; and

(c) in paragraph (3)(b) for "£57.00" substitute "£58.50".

(4) In Schedule 1 (voucher letter codes and face values supply and replacement)(6) in column 3 (face value of voucher) for each amount specified in column 1 of the table (old amount) substitute the amount specified in relation to it in column 2 of the table (new amount).

(5) For Schedule 2 (voucher values - repair)(7), substitute the Schedule 2 set out in the Schedule to these Regulations.

(6) In Schedule 3 (prisms, tints, photochromic lenses, small glasses and special frames and complex appliances)(8)-

(a) in paragraph 1(1)(a) (single vision lens with prism) for "£11.30" substitute "£11.60";

(b) in paragraph 1(1)(b) (other lens with prism) for "£13.50" substitute "£13.90";

(c) in paragraph 1(1)(c) (single vision tinted lens) for "£3.80" substitute "£3.90";

(d) in paragraph 1(1)(d) (other tinted lens) for "£4.30" substitute ?OQ?£4.40;

(e) in paragraph 1(1)(e) (small glasses)-

(i) in sub head (i) for "£57.00" substitute "£58.50";

(ii) in sub head (ii) for "£50.50" substitute "£51.90"; and

(iii) in sub head (iii) for "£27.30" substitute "£28.00";

(f) in paragraph 1(1)(g) (specially manufactured frame) for "£57.00", "£50.50" and "£27.30" substitute "£58.50", "£51.90" and "£28.00" respectively;

(g) in paragraph 2(a) (minimum complex appliance payment - single vision lenses) for "£13.00" substitute "£13.40"; and

(h) in paragraph 2(b) (minimum complex appliance payment - other lenses) for "£33.00" substitute "£33.90".

Application of regulation 2 of these Regulations

3. The amendments made by regulation 2(3) to (6) of, and the Schedule to, these Regulations apply only in relation to a voucher accepted or used pursuant to regulation 12 or regulation 17 of the principal Regulations on or after 1st April 2008.

Regulation 2(5)

SCHEDULE SCHEDULE 2 AS SUBSTITUTED BY THESE REGULATIONS

Regulation 19(2) and (3)

"SCHEDULE 2 VOUCHER VALUES - REPAIR

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 1998 ("the principal 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.

Regulation 2(2) amends the principal Regulations as a consequence of the amendment made in the consolidation of the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Scotland) Regulations, which come into force on 1st April 2008 (see S.S.I.

2008/27). The amendment to those Regulations was made to recognise and apply different charges according to whether a Scottish prescription form or an equivalent prescription form issued in England, Wales or Northern Ireland is presented by a patient.

Regulation 2(3) amends the principal Regulations 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 a voucher to the cost of repair of a frame.

Regulation 2(4) amends the principal Regulations to increase the value of vouchers towards the cost of the supply and replacement of optical appliances.

Regulation 2(5) amends the principal Regulations to increase the value of vouchers issued towards the cost of the repair and replacement of optical appliances.

Regulation 2(6) amends the principal Regulations to increase the additional values for vouchers for prisms, tints or photochromic lenses and special categories of appliances.

The increases contained in regulation 2(3) to (6) and the Schedule come into force on 1st April 2008. Regulation 3 provides however that those increases only apply in relation to vouchers accepted or used on or after 1st April 2008.