Optical Charges and Payments and General Ophthalmic Services (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001

Amendment of 1986 Regulations

11.—(1) Schedule 1 (terms of service) shall be amended in accordance with the following provisions.

(2) In paragraph 2 (incorporation of provisions)—

(a) for sub-paragraph (b)(iii) substitute—

“(iii) the investigation of excessive issuing of optical vouchers following a sight test;”;

(b) for sub-paragraph (c) substitute—

“regulation 9 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997”.

(3) In paragraph 3 (premises at which general ophthalmic services are to be provided), for sub-paragraph (2) substitute—

“(2) Where requested to do so by or on behalf of a patient, who is—

(a) unable to leave home unaccompanied because of physical or mental illness or disability, a contractor may agree to provide general ophthalmic services at the place at which the patient normally resides; or

(b) attending a day centre, a contractor may agree to provide general ophthalmic services at that day centre.”.

(4) After paragraph 3 insert the following paragraph—

“Visits

3A.— (1) In the case of mobile practices, a contractor shall give the relevant Board and the Agency notice in accordance with sub-paragraph (2) of any visits which he intends to make to provide general ophthalmic services to at least three persons at day centres or in residential centres in its area.

(2) The contractor shall notify the Board and the Agency at least a month in advance of the beginning of the month in which he intends to visit any establishment in the area of that Board and the intervals at which he intends to make return visits.”.

(5) In paragraph 4 (premises and equipment)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (1) after “Subject to” insert “sub-paragraph (1A) and”;

(b) after sub-paragraph (1) insert—

“(1A) In the case of a mobile practice, the contractor shall provide suitable equipment for the provision of the general ophthalmic services which he has undertaken to provide.”;

(c) in sub-paragraph (2) after “Subject to” insert “sub-paragraph (2A) and”;

(d) after sub-paragraph (2) insert—

“(2A) In the case of a mobile practice, the contractor, on receipt of a written request from the Department, the Board, the Agency or the Committee, shall arrange for an authorised officer of the Department, the Board, the Agency, or of the Committee, to be allowed to inspect at a reasonable time the facilities and equipment that he uses.”.

(6) In paragraph 5 (notices), for “the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 1989” substitute “the Health and Personal Social Services (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997”.

(7) In paragraph 10 (testing of sight), in sub-paragraph (2) for “he shall so inform the patient’s doctor” substitute “he shall, if appropriate, and with the consent of the patient, inform the patient’s doctor of his opinion.”.