The National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2001

Amendment of Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations

7.—(1) Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations (terms of service)(1) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph 3 (premises at which general ophthalmic services are to be provided)(2) for sub-paragraph (2) there is substituted–

“(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,”.

(3) After paragraph 3 there is inserted–

“Visits

3A.— (1) In the case of a mobile practice, a contractor shall give the Board or primary care NHS trust 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 the appropriate part of the Board’s area.

(2) The contractor shall notify the Board or primary care NHS trust at least one month in advance of the month in which he intends to visit any establishment in the appropriate part of the Board’s area and of the intervals at which he intends to make return visits.”.

(4) In paragraph 4 (premises and equipment)(3)–

(a) in sub-paragraph (1) for “Subject to paragraph 8(5),” there is substituted “Subject to paragraphs 4(1A) and 8(5),”;

(b) after sub-paragraph (1) there is inserted–

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

(c) in sub-paragraph (2) for “Subject to paragraph 8(5)??”, “there is substituted??” “Subject to paragraphs 4(2A) and 8(5),”;

(d) after sub-paragraph (2) there is inserted–

“(2A) In the case of a mobile practice, the contractor, on receipt of a written request from the Board or primary care NHS trust to do so, shall arrange for an ophthalmic officer or any authorised officer of the Scottish Ministers or the Board or primary care NHS trust or member of the Board or primary care NHS trust to be allowed to inspect at a reasonable time the facilities and equipment that he uses.”.

(5) For paragraph 6 (records)(4) there is substituted–

“6.— (1) A contractor shall keep a proper record in respect of each patient to whom he provides general ophthalmic services, giving appropriate details of sight testing.

(2) A contractor shall retain all such records for a period of seven years.

(3) A contractor shall, when requested to do so by any authorised officer of the Scottish Ministers, the Agency, the Board, or the primary care NHS trust during the period in which he is required to retain such records–

(a) produce them to such authorised officer of the Scottish Ministers, the Agency, the Board, or the primary care NHS trust; or

(b) send them to such authorised officer of the Scottish Ministers, the Agency, the Board, or the primary care NHS trust within such period as may be specified by the authorised officer not being less than 14 days from the date of the request.”

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

(1)

Schedule 1 was amended by S.I. 1988/543, 1989/387 and 1177, 1990/1048, 1996/843, 1999/725 and S.S.I. 1999/55.

(2)

Paragraph 3 was amended by S.I. 1990/1048.

(3)

Paragraph 4 was amended by S.I. 1998/543 and 1999/725, and S.S.I. 1999/55.

(4)

Paragraph 6 was amended by S.I. 1998/543 and 1999/725 and S.S.I. 1999/55