The National Health Service (Ophthalmic Services) (Wales) Regulations 2023

Approval of qualifications of ophthalmic medical practitioners

2.—(1) A medical practitioner who wishes to be recognised as an ophthalmic medical practitioner must apply to the Ophthalmic Qualifications Committee for its approval of that person’s qualifications and must give to the Ophthalmic Qualifications Committee such particulars of those qualifications as the Committee may require.

(2) The Ophthalmic Qualifications Committee must consider and determine that applicant’s application and within 2 months beginning with the date of the application must inform that applicant of its determination.

(3) If the Ophthalmic Qualifications Committee is satisfied that the applicant possesses the qualifications prescribed by paragraph 1, the applicant must be considered an ophthalmic medical practitioner.

(4) Despite paragraph 1 and sub-paragraph (1), a medical practitioner who has the prescribed qualifications for the purposes of providing general ophthalmic services in Northern Ireland under the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972, in Scotland under the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978, or in England under the National Health Service Act 2006, must be considered an ophthalmic medical practitioner.

(5) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2), the date of the application is the later of—

(a) the date on which a completed application with all necessary supporting information is received by the Ophthalmic Qualifications Committee, or

(b) if the Ophthalmic Qualifications Committee requires any further supporting particulars from the applicant, the date on which the Committee receives all the particulars that it requires.