Citation, commencement, interpretation and application

1. —(1) These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (Amendments Relating to Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 2009 and come into force on 1st April 2009.

(2) In these Regulations, “the Optical Regulations” means the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 1997( 2 ).

(3) These Regulations apply in relation to England.

Amendments to the Optical Regulations

2. —(1) The Optical Regulations are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 1 (citation, commencement and interpretation)—

(a) in the definition of “NHS sight test fee” for “£53.34” substitute “£55.93” and for “£19.32” substitute “£20.26”; and

(b) for the definition of “prisoner” substitute the following definition—

“ “prisoner” means a person who is detained in a prison, but is at the time he receives any primary ophthalmic service, on leave from that prison; ” .

(3) In regulation 8(3)(l)(ii) (eligibility – supply of optical appliances) for “£15,050” substitute “£15,276”.

(4) In regulation 19 (redemption value of voucher for replacement or repair)—

(a) in paragraph (1)(b), for “£51.90” substitute “£52.90”; and

(b) in paragraph (3), for “£13.40” substitute “£13.70”.

(5) In Schedule 1 (voucher letter codes and face values – supply and replacement), in column (3) of the table (face value of voucher), for each amount specified in column (1) of the table below substitute the amount specified in relation to it in column (2) of the table below:

(6) In Schedule 2 (prisms, tints, photochromic lenses, small and special glasses and complex appliances)—

(a) in paragraph 1(1)(a), for “£11.60” substitute “£11.80”;

(b) in paragraph 1(1)(b), for “£13.90” substitute “£14.20”;

(c) in paragraph 1(1)(c), for “£3.90” substitute “£4.00”;

(d) in paragraph 1(1)(d), for “£4.40” substitute “£4.50”;

(e) in paragraph 1(1)(e), for “£58.50”, “£51.90”, and “£28.00” substitute “£59.70”, “£52.90” and “£28.60” respectively;

(f) in paragraph 1(1)(g), for “£58.50” substitute “£59.70”;

(g) in paragraph 2(a), for “£13.40” substitute “£13.70”; and

(h) in paragraph 2(b), for “£33.90” substitute “£34.60”.

(7) For Schedule 3 (voucher values – repair), substitute —

Regulation 19(2) and (3)

“ SCHEDULE 3 VOUCHER VALUES REPAIR

Transitional Provision

3. The amounts substituted by regulation 2(4) to (7) shall apply only in relation to a voucher accepted or used pursuant to regulation 12 or regulation 17 of the Optical Regulations on or after 1st April 2009.

Amendment to the Primary Ophthalmic Services Regulations 2008

4. In regulation 3(2)(g)(ii) of the Primary Ophthalmic Services Regulations 2008( 3 )(sight tests –eligibility) for “£15,050” substitute “£15,276”.