Part 4The National Health Service
Chapter 2Ophthalmic services
42Payments in respect of optical appliances
1
Schedule 12 to the 1977 Act (which makes provision about charges and payments) is amended as follows.
2
In paragraph 2A(1)—
a
for paragraph (b) substitute—
b
for a person whose resources fall to be treated under the regulations as being less than or equal to his requirements;
ba
for any person falling within section 16CD(2)(d) above; or
b
after “paragraph (a), (b)” insert “, (ba)”.
3
After paragraph 2A insert—
2B
1
Regulations under paragraph 2A above providing for payments for meeting or contributing towards the cost incurred for the supply of optical appliances or their replacement or repair may also provide as follows, but in relation to England only.
2
They may make provision for such payments not to be made to any person falling within a prescribed description.
3
They may make provision for the Secretary of State to give notice as mentioned in sub-paragraph (4) to a person to whom such payments have been made (whether by the Secretary of State or by an authority established under this Act).
4
Such a notice is notice that no further such payments in respect of the supply, replacement or repair of optical appliances at a particular location or in a particular area, in either case specified in the notice, will be made to him after a date specified in the notice.
5
If such a notice is given, no further payments as mentioned in sub-paragraph (4) are to be made to him after the date specified in the notice, unless the notice is cancelled by the Secretary of State.
6
The regulations may make provision conferring on the Secretary of State the right, if he has given a notice by virtue of sub-paragraph (3), to apply to the FHSAA for a stop order.
7
A stop order is an order that no further such payments are to be made (whether by the Secretary of State or by any authority established under this Act) to the person in question in respect of the supply, replacement or repair of optical appliances, wherever the supply, replacement or repair occurred.
8
If the regulations make the provision mentioned in sub-paragraph (3), they must also make provision conferring prescribed rights of appeal to the FHSAA upon the person to whom the notice was given.