1997 No. 125

HEALTH AND PERSONAL SOCIAL SERVICES

Charges for Drugs and Appliances (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997

Made

Coming into operation

The Department of Health and Social Services in exercise of the powers conferred on it by Articles 98 and 106 of, and Schedule 15 to, the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 19721 and of all other powers enabling it in that behalf, with the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel, hereby makes the following Regulations:

Citation, commencement and interpretation1

1

These Regulations may be cited as the Charges for Drugs and Appliances (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 and shall come into operation on 1st April 1997.

2

In these Regulations “the principal regulations” means the Health and Personal Social Services (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 19732.

Amendment of regulation 3 of the principal Regulations2

In regulation 3 (supply of drugs and appliances by chemists) in paragraphs (1)(b) and (3) for “£5·50” there shall be substituted “£5·65”.

Amendment of regulation 5 of the principal Regulations3

In regulation 5(1)(b) (supply of drugs and appliances by doctors) for “£5·50” there shall be substituted “£5·65”.

Amendment of regulation 6 of the principal Regulations4

In regulation 6(4) (prepayment certificates) for “£28·50” there shall be substituted “£29·30” and for “£78·40” there shall be substituted “£80·50”.

Amendment of regulation 7 of the principal Regulations5

In regulation 7 (supply of drugs and certain appliances to out-patients by hospitals)—

a

in paragraph (1)(b) for “£5·50” there shall be substituted “£5·65”;

b

in paragraphs (2)(b) and (3) for “£5·50” there shall be substituted “£5·65”.

Amendment of Schedules to the principal Regulations6

1

In Schedule 1 for “£5·50” there shall be substituted “£5·65” and for “£11·00” there shall be substituted “£11·30”.

2

In Schedule 1A3 for “£11·00” there shall be substituted “£11·30”.

3

For Schedule 2 there shall be substituted the following Schedule—

SCHEDULE 2Charges for Wigs and Fabric Supports

(1)

(2)

Description

Charges

Surgical Brassiere

£19·75

Abdominal or Spinal Support

£29·05

Stock Modacrylic Wig

£47·00

Partial Human Hair Wig

£123·00

Full Bespoke Human Hair Wig

£179·50

Transitional provisions7

Where on or after 1st April 1997—

a

any appliance specified in Schedule 2 to the principal Regulations is supplied pursuant to an order given before that date; or

b

any prepayment certificate is granted under regulation 6 of the principal Regulations pursuant to an application under that Regulation which was received before that date,

the principal Regulations shall have effect in relation to that supply or, as the case may be, that grant as if regulations 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of these Regulations had not come into force.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health and Social Services on

Joan DixonAssistant Secretary

The Department of Finance and Personnel hereby approves the foregoing Regulations.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance and Personnel on

J. G. SullivanAssistant Secretary

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations further amend the Health and Personal Social Services (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1973 (“the principal regulations”), which provide for the making and recovery of charges for drugs and appliances supplied by doctors and chemists providing pharmaceutical services, and by hospitals and HSS trusts to out-patients.

The charge for each item on prescription is increased from £5·50 to £5·65. The sums prescribed for the grant of prepayment certificates of exemption from prescription charges are increased from £28·50 to £29·30 for a 4 month certificate and from £78·40 to £80·50 for a 12 month certificate.

The charge for elastic stockings is increased from £5·50 to £5·65 for each item (from £11·00 to £11·30 per pair) and for tights from £11·00 to £11·30.

The charge for a partial human hair wig is increased from £120·00 to £123·00, and for a stock modacrylic wig from £46·00 to £47·00. The charge for a full bespoke human hair wig is increased from £175·00 to £179·50. The charge for a surgical brassiere is increased from £19·25 to £19·75 and for an abdominal or spinal support from £28·30 to £29·05.

Transitional arrangements are made in respect of prepayment certificates, and appliances ordered, before the coming into force of these Regulations (regulation 7).