The National Health Service (Primary Ophthalmic Services) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2013

Made: 7th October 2013

Laid before Parliament: 10th October 2013

Coming into force: 1st November 2013

The Secretary of State for Health makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 115, 116 and 272(7) of the National Health Service Act 2006[^f00001].

Citation and commencement

1

These Regulations may be cited as the as the National Health Service (Primary Ophthalmic Services) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2013 and come into force on 1st November 2013.

Amendment to the Primary Ophthalmic Services Regulations 2008

2

In regulation 3(2)(l) (sight tests – eligibility) of the Primary Ophthalmic Services Regulations 2008[^f00002], for “31st October 2013” substitute “5th April 2014”.

Amendment to the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 2013

3

In regulation 8(3)(j) (eligibility for a voucher – supply of optical appliances) of the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 2013[^f00003], for “31st October 2013” substitute “5th April 2014”.

Signed

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Health.

Earl Howe — Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, — Department of Health — 7th October 2013

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

These Regulations amend the Primary Ophthalmic Services Regulations 2008 (“the POS Regulations”), which make provision for who is entitled to primary ophthalmic services eye tests under the National Health Service Act 2006, and the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 2013 (“the Charges Regulations”), which provide for a scheme of payments to be made by means of a voucher system in respect of costs incurred by certain persons in connection with eye tests and the supply, replacement and repair of optical appliances.

Regulation 2 amends regulation 3(2)(1) of the POS Regulations to extend eligibility for NHS sight tests to recipients, and certain family members of recipients, of universal credit during the period which starts on 1st November 2013 and ends on 5th April 2014. Regulation 3 amends regulation 8(3)(j) of the Charges Regulations also to extend eligibility for payment vouchers to recipients, and certain family members of recipients, of universal credit during the same period. Both sets of Regulations previously referred to the period starting on 29th April 2013 and ending on 31st October 2013.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 2006 c.41. Section 115 was amended by the Health and Social Care Act 2012, Schedule 4, paragraph 54. By virtue of section 271(1) of the 2006 Act, the functions of the Secretary of State being exercised in the making of these Regulations are exercisable only in relation to England. See also section 275(1) of the 2006 Act, which contains definitions of “prescribed” and “regulations” that are relevant to the powers being exercised.

[^f00002]: S.I 2008/1186; the relevant amending instrument is S.I 2013/365.

[^f00003]: S.I 2013/461.