The National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2023

Amendments to the Schedules to the Optical Regulations

9.—(1) Schedules 1 to 3 to the Optical Regulations are amended as follows.

(2) For Schedule 1 (voucher letter codes and face values – supply and replacement) substitute the Schedule 1 contained in Schedule 1 to these Regulations.

(3) In Schedule 2 (prisms, tints, photochromic lenses, small and special glasses and complex appliances)—

(a) in paragraph 1(1)(a), for “£12.60” substitute “£12.00”;

(b) in paragraph 1(1)(b), for “£15.40” substitute “£14.00”;

(c) in paragraph 1(1)(c), for “£4.40” substitute “£2.00”;

(d) in paragraph 1(1)(d), for “£4.90” substitute “£2.50”;

(e) after sub-paragraph 1(1), insert—

“(1A) In addition to any increase under sub-paragraph (1), the amount in column 3 of Schedule 1 relating to a voucher with the number code 1 must be increased by £15.00 where—

(a) that voucher is issued to an eligible person who is under the age of 19 years,

(b) the eligible person has been issued a prescription for single vision lenses of a spherical power of between 4 and 6 dioptres, with a cylindrical power of not more than 2 dioptres, and

(c) the ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician that issues the voucher considers a non-stock lens supplement is required to improve the cosmetic appearance of the optical appliance in relation to which the voucher will be used.

(1B) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1A), “non-stock lens supplement” means surfacing of the lenses or using high index or aspheric lenses.”

(4) For Schedule 3 (voucher values – repair) substitute the Schedule 3 contained in Schedule 2 to these Regulations.