Amendment to the Primary Ophthalmic Services Regulations7.

(1)

The Primary Ophthalmic Services Regulations are amended as follows.

(2)

In regulation 2(1)14 (interpretation)—

(a)

for the definition of “Charges Regulations”, substitute—

““Charges Regulations” means the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 2013;”;

(b)

for the definition of “notice of entitlement”, substitute—

““notice of entitlement to full remission” means a notice of entitlement to full remission of a NHS charge issued under regulation 8 of the National Health Service (Travel Expenses and Remission of Charges) Regulations 2003 for the purposes of remission of charges under the Act;”.

(3)

In regulation 3(2)(h) (sight tests–eligibility), after the word “entitlement”, insert “to full remission;”.

(4)

In regulation 5(2)15 (sight test treated as a test under general ophthalmic services), for “regulation 8(1)(a) of the Charges Regulations” substitute “regulation 8(1) of the Charges Regulations”.

(5)

After regulation 6(2) (application and signatures by children or persons incapable) insert—

“(3)

a signature required by these Regulations must—

(i)

where an electronic form is used, be in digital ink; or

(ii)

where a paper form is used be in ink,

and must be in the signatory’s own handwriting with the signatory’s initials or forename and surname, and not by means of a stamp or a reproduced image.”.