The General Ophthalmic Services (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

Amendment of Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations

4.  In Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations—

(a) omit paragraph 1;

(b) in paragraph 2(a) for “the regulations” substitute “these Regulations”;

(c) after paragraph 4(8) insert the following paragraphs—

“(9) In sub-paragraph (8) “emergency mobile services” means general ophthalmic services provided at a location, other than the contractor’s practice premises, where the contractor has made reasonable arrangements to secure that a patient requiring prompt care will receive such care as soon as appropriately possible.

(10) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (9) a patient requires “prompt care” if in the clinical opinion of the contractor—

(a) the patient’s sight is likely to deteriorate without such care;

(b) the patient is in significant pain by reason of his eye condition; or

(c) the patient may be at serious risk of sustaining a personal injury as a direct result of having an uncorrected refractive error;

and “prompt care” does not necessitate a repair or replacement of an optical appliance unless head (c) applies.”;

(d) in paragraph 13(4) for “the regulations” substitute “these Regulations”.