(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations consolidate the provisions of the General Ophthalmic Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1986 (“the 1986 Regulations”). The 1986 Regulations and all subsequent amendments are repealed by regulation 23(1) and Schedule 3. There are also various minor changes, mainly of a drafting nature.
The Regulations make provision for the arrangements under which General Ophthalmic Services are provided. The principal matters covered by these Regulations are the qualifications of ophthalmic medical practitioners (regulations 5 to 7), the list of those providing general ophthalmic services (regulations 8 to 11), the determination of fees payable for those providing the services (regulation 12), the terms on which they provide them (regulation 13 and Schedule 1), payments to them (regulation 14 to 15), and provision for sight testing (regulations 16 to 18).