UK Statutory Instrument
2013
England and Wales
The National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 2013
These Regulations consolidate with amendments the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 1997 (“the 1997 Regulations”). The 1997 Regulations provided for a scheme for payments to be made by means of a voucher system, in respect of costs incurred by certain categories of persons in connection with sight tests and the supply, replacement and repair of optical appliances.
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
4 compliance obligations
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Distributor 2
- Any Person 1
Plus 1 non-business duty on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Other Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Distributors also bound by 177 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material (England) Regulations 2017 2017 28 duties
- The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material (Wales) Regulations 2017 2017 26 duties
- The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 2017 25 duties
- Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 2002 21 duties
- THE ELECTRICITY SAFETY, QUALITY AND CONTINUITY REGULATIONS (NORTHERN IRELAND) 2012 2012 19 duties
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part 1 — GENERAL
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 2 — CHARGES
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Charges for glasses and contact lenses
Part 3 — PAYMENTS TOWARDS COST OF SIGHT TESTS
Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Eligibility for a voucher — sight tests
Completion and use of voucher––sight tests
Payments to ophthalmic practitioners
Payments to persons in respect of sight tests
Redemption value of voucher for sight test
Part 4 — PAYMENTS FOR COST OF SUPPLY OF OPTICAL APPLIANCES
Issue of vouchers by ophthalmic practitioners
- Issue NHS optical vouchers to eligible patients when required Any Person
Use of vouchers for supply of optical appliances
- Verify patient eligibility and record failure to provide evidence when accepting optical vouchers Distributor
Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Eligibility for a voucher — supply of optical appliances
Issue of vouchers by NHS trusts
Issue of replacement vouchers
Notice of entitlement
Payments to suppliers
Redemption value of voucher for supply of optical appliances
Part 5 — PAYMENTS FOR COST OF REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR OF OPTICAL APPLIANCES
Completion of vouchers
- Complete NHS voucher for replacement or repair of optical appliances Distributor
Browse 4 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Eligibility for a voucher – replacement or repair
Use of vouchers for replacement or repair
Payments to suppliers for the replacement or repair
Redemption value of voucher for replacement or repair
Part 6 — CESSATION OF PAYMENTS
Reviews of stop notices
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must review stop notices on request after 2 years and cancel if supplier is suitable Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Notice as to cessation of payments
Reviews of stop orders
Part 7 — PAYMENTS TO PERSONS IN RESPECT OF OPTICAL APPLIANCES
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Payments to persons in respect of the supply, replacement or repair of optical appliances
Part 8 — MISCELLANEOUS
Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Amounts wrongly paid
Signatures and claims for payments
Claims, signatures and evidence of eligibility during a pandemic etc.
Exercise of NHS England’s functions under these Regulations
Transitional Provisions
Revocations
Schedules
Browse 3 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
For the purposes of this Schedule ––
(1) The amounts in column 3 of Schedule 1 and...
The minimum complex appliance payment is— (a) for a complex...
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
General Optical Council
Statutory regulator for optometrists, dispensing opticians, student opticians, and optical businesses in the UK. Registers individuals and businesses, sets standards, and investigates …
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Browse legislation
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Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.