Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1990 and shall come into force on 1st April 1990.

(2) In these Regulations, “the principal Regulations” means the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Scotland) Regulations 1989(2).

Amendments of amounts specified in the principal Regulations

2.—(1) In regulation 3(1)(b) of the principal Regulations (“Supply of drugs and appliances by chemists”), for the figure “£2.80”, there shall be substituted the figure “£3.05”.

(2) In regulation 8(5) of the principal Regulations (“Pre-payment certificates”)–

(a)for the figure “£14.50” there shall be substituted the figure “£15.80”; and

(b)for the figure “£40.00” there shall be substituted the figure “£43.50”.

(3) For Schedules 1, 2 and 3 to the principal Regulations there shall be substituted those Schedules as set out in the Schedule to these Regulations.

Amendment of regulation 7 (“Exemptions”) of the principal Regulations

3.  In regulation 7(1)(e)(ii) of the principal Regulations (“Exemptions”)–

(a)the words “the following disorders for which specific substitution therapy is essential:–” shall be deleted;

(b)for the words from “Addison’s disease” to “hypoadrenalism,” there shall be substituted the words “forms of hypoadrenalism (including Addison’s disease) for which specific substitution therapy is required,”; and

(c)after the words “diabetes mellitus” there shall be inserted the words “except where treatment is by diet alone”.

Application

4.  The principal Regulations, as amended by these Regulations, shall apply only where drugs are supplied after 31st March 1990 except that–

(a)regulation 6 (“Fabric supports and wigs”) of the principal Regulations, as so amended, shall apply only where the examination or first examination leading to the supply of the specified appliance takes place after that date; and

(b)regulation 8 (“Pre-payment certificates”) of the principal Regulations, as so amended, shall apply only where the application referred to in pa1ragraph (1) of that regulation is received after that date.

Regulation 2

SCHEDULE

Regulations 3, 4 and 5

“SCHEDULE 1CHARGES FOR ELASTIC HOSIERY

Regulation 5

SCHEDULE 2CHARGES FOR TIGHTS

Regulation 6

SCHEDULE 3CHARGES FOR FABRIC SUPPORTS AND WIGS

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which come into force on 1st April 1990, amend the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Scotland) Regulations 1989 (“the principal Regulations”) which provide for the making and recovery of charges for drugs and appliances (other than dental or optical appliances) supplied by chemists and doctors under or by virtue of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978.

Regulation 2 provides for increases in the charges specified for the supply of drugs and appliances, elastic hosiery and fabric supports and wigs.

The charge for most items on prescription or supplied to an out-patient is increased from £2.80 to £3.05. The charge for an elastic stocking is increased from £2.80 to £3.05 and for tights from £5.60 to £6.10 per pair. The charge for surgical brassieres is increased from £12.00 to £13.00 and for fabric supports from £16.00 to £17.00. The charges for wigs are increased from £24.00 to £26.00 (modacrylic wig) and from £62.00 to £67.00 (partial human hair wig). The charge for a full bespoke human hair wig remains at £97.00. The sums prescribed for the provision of pre-payment certificates of exemption from charges are increased from £14.50 to £15.80 for a four month certificate and from £40.00 to £43.50 for a twelve month certificate.

Regulation 3 makes minor amendments to the list of medical conditions set out in regulation 7(1)(e)(ii) of the principal Regulations, sufferers from which are exempted from payment of charges.