The National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 1989

Redemption value of voucher—supply of optical appliances

15.—(1) Where an optical appliance was supplied otherwise than under the Act the redemption value of a voucher is, subject to paragraphs (3) to (5), the lesser of—

(a) the full cost which would have been payable by the patient for the supply but for these Regulations;

(b) the face value of the voucher.

(2) Where an optical appliance was supplied under the Act, the redemption value of a voucher is, subject to paragraphs (3) to (5), the lesser of—

(a) the amount of the charge under section 70(1) of the Act which would have been payable by the patient for the supply but for these Regulations;

(b) the face value of the voucher.

(3) In relation to payments to be made because of a person’s eligibility by virtue of regulation 8(2)(d), the amounts taken for the purposes of paragraph (1)(a) and (b) or paragraph (2)(a) and (b) shall, subject to paragraph (4), be reduced—

(a) where no voucher was completed in accordance with Part III in respect of the testing of the patient’s sight, by the amount of the patient’s contribution;

(b) where such a voucher was completed and for the purposes of regulation 7 the patient’s contribution exceeded the lesser of the amounts specified in regulation 7(a) and (b), by the amount of the excess.

(4) If a reduction made under paragraph (3) in the case of a patient to whom a prescription was issued for a complex appliance would render the redemption value of the voucher less than the minimum complex appliance payment, that value shall be the minimum complex appliance payment.

(5) Where the patient was an eligible person only because a prescription was issued to him for a complex appliance, the redemption value of a voucher shall be the minimum complex appliance payment, except that where—

(a) the appliance was supplied under the Act; and

(b) in accordance with directions given pursuant to regulation 2(1), the amount of a charge made for the supply under section 70(1) of the Act would, but for any maximum charge specified in the directions, have exceeded by any amount the charge actually made,

the redemption value shall be reduced by the amount of the excess.