National Health Service Act 1977

Regulations under section 78—charges for dental or optical appliances E+W+S

2 [F1 (1) The optical appliances referred to in section 78(1) above are glasses and contact lenses, and the charge for glasses and contact lenses which that subsection authorises is a charge of such sum as may be determined by or in accordance with directions given by the Secretary of State.] E+W+S

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2

(2) Regulations may—

(a) vary the amount or maximum amount of any charge authorised by section 78(1) for any . . . F3 optical appliance, and this power includes power to direct that the charge shall not be payable; or

(b) vary the descriptions of appliances for which any such charge is authorised;

and regulations made for the purposes of section 78(1) may be made so as to take effect—

(i) in the case of appliances supplied under this Act otherwise than under Part II, where the examination or testing of sight (otherwise than under that Part) leading to the supply of those appliances, or the first such examination or testing, takes place on or after the date on which the regulations come into force;

(ii) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F4

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F5

(3) No charge shall be made under section 78(1) [F6 or (1A)] in respect of any appliance supplied otherwise than under Part II to a patient for the time being resident in a hospital.

(4) No charge shall be made under section 78 [F7 (1A)] in respect of the supply of a dental appliance if at the relevant time the person for whom that appliance was supplied—

[F8 (a) was under [F9 18] years of age or was under 19 years of age and receiving qualifying full-time education; or]

(b) was an expectant mother or had borne a child within the previous twelve months.

(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F10

(6) Regulations made with respect to any exemption under sub-paragraph (4) . . . F2 above may provide that it shall be a condition of the exemption that such declaration is made in such form and manner, or such certificate or other evidence is supplied in such form and manner, as may be prescribed.

(7) In sub-paragraphs (4) . . . F2 “the relevant time” means—

(a) in relation to a dental appliance supplied otherwise than under Part II, . . . F2 the time of the examination . . . F2 leading to the supply of the appliance, or the first such examination . . . F2 ;

(b) in relation to a dental appliance supplied under Part II, the time of the making of the contract or arrangement in pursuance of which the appliance is supplied.

(8) References in section 78 and in this paragraph to the supply of appliances shall be construed as including references to their replacement [F11 and, in the case of dentures, to their being relined or adjusted or having additions made to them,] but no charge shall be made under those provisions in respect of the replacement of dentures . . . F2 if the replacement is required in consequence of loss or damage.

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 12 para. 2(1) substituted by Health and Medicines Act 1988 (c. 49, SIF 113:2), s. 25(1), Sch. 2 para. 8(1)

F2 Words repealed by Health and Social Security Act 1984 (c. 48, SIF 113:1), s. 24, Sch. 8 Pt. I

F3 Words repealed by Health and Medicines Act 1988 (c. 49, SIF 113:2), s. 25(2), Sch. 3

F4 Sch. 12 para. 2(2)(ii) repealed by Health and Medicines Act 1988 (c. 49, SIF 113:2), s. 25(2), Sch. 3

F5 Para 2(2)(iii) repealed by Health and Social Security Act 1984 (c. 48, SIF 113:1), s. 24, Sch. 8 Pt. 1

F6 Words inserted by Health and Medicines Act 1988 (c. 49, SIF 113:2), s. 25(1), Sch. 2 para. 8(2)

F7 Word substituted by Health and Medicines Act 1988 (c. 49, SIF 113:2), s. 25(1), Sch. 2 para. 8(3)

F8 Para. 2(4)(a) substituted by Health Services Act 1980 (c. 53, SIF 113:2), s. 25(2), Sch. 5 Pt. I para. 2(3)

F9 Word substituted by Health and Medicines Act 1988 (c. 49, SIF 113:2), s. 11(8)

F10 S. 15(2), Sch. 12 para. 2(5) repealed by Health and Social Security Act 1984 (c. 48, SIF 113:1), s. 24, Sch. 8 Pt. I

F11 Words inserted by Health Services Act 1980 (c. 53, SIF 113:2), s. 25(2), Sch. 5 Pt. I para. 2(5)

[F12 2A (1) It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to provide by regulations for payments to be made by him or by any authority established under this Act to meet, or to contribute towards, the cost incurred (whether by way of charge under this Act or otherwise) for the supply of optical appliances for which a prescription has been given in consequence of a testing of sight under this Act— E+W+S

(a) for a child;

(b) for a person whose resources fall to be treated under the regulations as being less than his re quirements;

or

(c) for a person of such other description as may be prescribed

[F13 or for which a prescription has been given for a person such as is mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above in consequence of a testing of sight (not being a testing of sight under this Act) which took place in prescribed circumstances].

(2) In sub-paragraph (1) above “child” means—

(a) a person who is under the age of 16 years; or

(b) a person who is under the age of 19 years and receiving qualifying full-time education.

[F14 (3) The Secretary of State may by regulations—

(a) provide for himself or such authority established under this Act as may be prescribed to contribute to the cost of a testing of sight which he or the prescribed authority accepts as having been incurred by a person whose resources fall to be treated under the regulations as exceeding his requirements but only by an amount calculated under the regulations;

(b) provide for payments to be made by him or by such authority established under this Act as may be prescribed to meet, or to contribute towards, any cost accepted by him or by the prescribed authority as having been incurred (whether by way of charge under this Act or otherwise) for the replacement or repair in prescribed circumstances of optical appliances for which a prescription was given in consequence of a testing of the sight of a person of a prescribed description; and

(c) direct how a person’s resources and requirements are to be calculated and, without prejudice to the generality of this sub-paragraph, give any such direction as to how they are to be calculated as may be given by regulations under section 83A(3) above.

(3A) Descriptions of persons may be prescribed under this paragraph by reference to any criterion and, without prejudice to the generality of this sub-paragraph, by reference to any of the criteria specified in section 83A(2) above.

(3B) Subsection (4) of section 83A above shall have effect in relation to regulations under this paragraph as it has effect in relation to regulations under that section.]

(4) If regulations under this paragraph provide for payments to be made by an authority established under this Act, it shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to pay to the authority, in respect of each financial year, the sum attributable to the authority’s disbursements under the regulations.

(5) Sums falling to be paid in pursuance of regulations made under this paragraph shall be payable subject to compliance with such conditions as to records, certificates or otherwise as the Secretary of State may determine.]

Textual Amendments

F12 Para. 2A inserted by Health and Social Security Act 1984 (c. 48, SIF 113:1), s. 1(6), Sch. 1 para. 3

F13 Words added by Health and Medicines Act 1988 (c. 49, SIF 113:2), s. 13(2)

F14 Sch. 12 para. 2A(3)(3A)(3B) substituted for para. 2A(3) by Health and Medicines Act 1988 (c. 49, SIF 113:2), s. 13(3)