The National Health Service (Charges, Primary Medical Services and Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) (Coronavirus) (Further Amendments) Regulations 2021

Amendment of regulation 15 of the Charges Regulations

13.—(1) Regulation 15 of the Charges Regulations (certificates of exemption: application and issue) is amended as follows.

(2) For paragraph (1) substitute—

“(1) A person who wishes to claim exemption from charges payable under these Regulations (“an applicant”) by virtue of—

(a) regulation 10(1)(d), (e) or (f), or a health care professional making such an application on an applicant’s behalf, must apply for a certificate conferring exemption on an approved form provided by the Secretary of State; or

(b) regulation 10(1)(h), must apply for a certificate conferring exemption to the Ministry of Defence on an approved form provided by the Secretary of State.”.

(3) In paragraph (2)—

(a) for “that mother’s pregnancy, and in the case of a mother who gives birth” substitute “the period of twelve months beginning with the expected date of confinement, or in respect of applications received after an applicant has given birth”; and

(b) in sub-paragraph (a), after “the expected date of confinement” insert “or the date of birth (depending on which is requested)”.

(4) After paragraph (2) insert—

“(2A) Where an exemption certificate is issued to an applicant who is an expectant mother the period of the validity of the certificate may be extended so that the twelve months is calculated from the child’s date of birth if—

(a) that date is later than the expected date of confinement; and

(b) the mother requests such an extension following the birth of a child as mentioned in paragraph (2)(a) or (b).”.