Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Amendment Regulations 2012 and come into force on 1st April 2012.

(2) In these Regulations, "the Charges Regulations" means the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Regulations 2000(2).

Amendment of the Charges Regulations to increase charges

2.-(1) The Charges Regulations are amended as follows.

(2) In each of the following provisions, for "£7.40" at each place that it occurs substitute "£7.65"-

(a)regulation 3(1)(a) and (b), (1A)(b)(i) and (ii) and (4) (charges for the supply of drugs and appliances by chemists);

(b)regulation 4(1)(a) and (b) and (4) (charges for the supply of drugs and appliances by doctors);

(c)regulation 4A(1)(a) and (b) (charges for the out of hours supply of drugs and appliances by providers of out of hours services);

(d)regulation 5(1)(a) and (d) and (5) (charges for the supply of drugs and appliances by NHS trusts, NHS foundation trusts and Primary Care Trusts);

(e)regulation 6(1)(a) and (b) and (4) (charges for the supply of drugs and appliances at Walk-in Centres); and

(f)regulation 6A(1) (charges for the supply of drugs under Patient Group Directions).

(3) In each of the following provisions, for "£14.80" at each place that it occurs substitute "£15.30"-

(a)regulation 3(1)(a) and (1A)(b)(i) (charge for the supply of a pair of elastic hosiery by chemists);

(b)regulation 4(1)(a) (charge for the supply of a pair of elastic hosiery by doctors);

(c)regulation 4A(1)(a) (charge for the out of hours supply of a pair of elastic hosiery by providers of out of hours services);

(d)regulation 5(1)(a) and (c) (charge for the supply of a pair of elastic hosiery or tights by NHS trusts, NHS foundation trusts and Primary Care Trusts); and

(e)regulation 6(1)(a) (charge for the supply of a pair of elastic hosiery at Walk-in Centres).

(4) In column (2) of Schedule 1 (charges for fabric supports and wigs)-

(a)for "£25.10" substitute £25.70";

(b)for "£37.90" substitute "£38.80";

(c)for "£61.85" substitute "£63.35";

(d)for "£163.80" substitute "£167.85"; and

(e)for "£239.45" substitute "£245.40".

Transitional provision relating to the Charges Regulations

3. Where, on or after 1st April 2012, any appliance specified in Schedule 1 to the Charges Regulations (charges for fabric supports and wigs) is supplied pursuant to an order given before that date, the Charges Regulations are to have effect in relation to that supply as if these Regulations had not come into force.

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 Charges Regulations"), which provide for the making and recovery of charges for drugs and appliances supplied under the National Health Service Act 2006 and subordinate legislation under that Act.

Regulation 2 increases prescription and other charges payable under the Charges Regulations. Specifically, charges for the supply of drugs and appliances under the Charges Regulations are increased from £7.40 to £7.65; the charge for the supply of a pair of elastic hosiery under the Charges Regulations is increased from £14.80 to £15.30; and charges for fabric supports and wigs supplied under the Charges Regulations are increased from their previous levels by the same uprating formula.

Regulation 3 makes transitional provision in relation to charges for fabric supports and wigs supplied under the Charges Regulations.