HEALTH AND PERSONAL SOCIAL SERVICES Citation, commencement and interpretation 1 1 These Regulations may be cited as the Optical Charges and Payments and General Ophthalmic Services (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 and shall come into operation on 12th November 2001. 2 In these Regulations— a “the 1997 Regulations ” means the Health and Personal Social Services (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 ; b “the 1986 Regulations ” means the General Ophthalmic Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1986 . Amendment of the 1997 Regulations 2 In Regulation 1(2) of the 1997 Regulations (interpretation), in the definition of “health service sight test fee”, for the amount of “£42·79” substitute “£42·85” and for the amount “£15·46” substitute “£15·52”. 3 1 Regulation 12 of the 1997 Regulations (use of vouchers for supply of optical appliances) shall be amended in accordance with the following provisions. 2 In paragraph (1) for “paragraphs (4) and (5)” substitute “paragraphs (4), (5) and (6),”. 3 After paragraph (5) add— 6 When the patient presents the voucher— a the supplier shall ask him to produce satisfactory evidence that he is an eligible person, unless the supplier, in cases other than where the patient is an eligible person by virtue of regulation 8(2)( c ) or ( d ), already has satisfactory evidence of entitlement available to him; and b if the patient is requested to produce satisfactory evidence, but does not do so, the supplier shall record the fact on the voucher. . 4 At the end of regulation 13 of the 1997 Regulations (payments to suppliers), add— 3 The Agency shall also make a payment, to be determined by the Department, to the supplier to meet or contribute to the cost incurred by the supplier in complying with regulation 12(6). . 5 In Regulation 16 of the 1997 Regulations (completion of vouchers), for paragraphs (2) and (3) substitute— 2 In the case of a replacement, the supplier shall— a ask the patient to produce satisfactory evidence of entitlement, unless the supplier, in cases other than where the patient is an eligible person by virtue of regulation 8(2)( c ) or ( d ), already has satisfactory evidence of entitlement available to him; b mark on the voucher the letter code specified in column 2 of Schedule 1, which relates to the type of optical appliance to be replaced, as set out in column 1 of that Schedule; c duly complete the relevant parts of the voucher with— i the name and address of the patient, ii the patient’s date of birth; d if the patient has been asked for, but not shown satisfactory evidence of entitlement, record the fact on the voucher. 3 In the case of a repair, the supplier shall— a ask the patient to produce satisfactory evidence of entitlement, unless the supplier, in cases other than where the patient is an eligible person by virtue of regulation 8(2)( c ) or ( d ), already has satisfactory evidence of entitlement available to him; b mark on the voucher the letter code specified in column 2 of Schedule 1 which relates to the type of optical appliance to be replaced as set out in column 1 of that Schedule; c indicate on the voucher the nature of the repair of the appliance to be undertaken and, in particular, whether it comprises— i the replacement or repair of one or more lenses included in the appliance and, if so, how many, ii the repair of a frame and, if so, whether it is the whole frame, the front of a frame or one or both sides of a frame, d duly complete the relevant parts of the voucher with— i the name and address of the patient, ii the patients' date of birth; and e if the patient has been asked for, but not shown satisfactory evidence of entitlement, record the fact on the voucher. . 6 At the end of regulation 18 of the 1997 Regulations (payments to suppliers for replacement or repair), add— 3 The Agency shall also make a payment, to be determined by the Department, to the supplier to meet or contribute to the cost incurred by the supplier in order to comply with regulation 16(2) or (3) . Amendment of 1986 Regulations 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety on 12th October 2001. D. A. Baker Senior Officer of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety The Department of Finance and Personnel hereby approves the foregoing Regulations. Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance and Personnel on 12th October 2001. Rodney Scott Senior Officer of the Department of Finance and Personnel