Amendment of regulation 2 of the principal Regulations
2. In regulation 2 of the principal Regulations (Interpretation), in the appropriate places in the alphabetical order, insert—
““emergency mobile services” means general ophthalmic services provided at a location, other than the contractor’s practice premises, where a contractor has made reasonable arrangements to secure that a patient requiring prompt care will receive such care as soon as appropriately possible. For the purposes of this definition a patient requires prompt care, if in the clinical opinion of the contractor—
the patient’s sight is likely to deteriorate without such care;
the patient is in significant pain by reason of his eye condition; or
the patient may be at serious risk of sustaining a personal injury as a direct result of having an uncorrected refractive error;
“prompt care” in relation to “emergency mobile services” does not necessitate a repair or replacement of an optical appliance unless paragraph (c) of the definition of “emergency mobile services” applies;”.