These Regulations consolidate with amendments the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 1989 (“the 1989 Regulations”) which provide a scheme for payments to be made by Health Boards and NHS trusts by means of a voucher system, in respect of costs incurred by certain categories of persons in connection with sight tests and the supply, replacement and repair of optical appliances.

The 1989 Regulations and all subsequent amendments to them are revoked by regulation 23 and Schedule 4. The Regulations, contained in the instruments referred to in Schedule 4, which amended Regulations other than the 1989 Regulations remain in force.

The amendments made to the 1989 Regulations are as follows:–

Amendments to update references to various enactments including, in particular, references to the Opticians Act 1958 (which has been replaced by the Opticians Act 1989); and references to the Social Security Act 1986 (which has now been replaced, in part, by the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992).

British Standard 3521/91, referred to in regulation 1(2) of these Regulations, may be obtained from the British Standards Institution at 389 Chiswick High Road, London, W4 4AL.

The Regulations also incorporate increases in voucher values for the supply, repair and replacement of optical appliances.

Regulation 19 (redemption value of voucher for replacement or repair) increases the value of an optical voucher issued towards the cost of replacing a single contact lens, and to increase the maximum contribution by way of voucher to the cost of repairing a frame.

Schedule 1 increases the value of vouchers issued towards the cost of the supply and replacement of glasses and contact lenses.

Schedule 2 increases the value of vouchers issued towards the cost of the repair and replacement of optical appliances.

Schedule 3 increases the additional value for vouchers for prisms, tints, photochromic lenses and special categories of appliances.

The rate of increase is, on average, approximately 2.8%.