Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1987 and shall come into force on 1st April 1987.

(2) In these Regulations "the principal regulations" means the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Scotland) Regulations 1980(2).

Amendment of the principal regulations

2.  In regulations 3(1)(b), 3(4), 4(1)(b) and 5(1)(b) of the principal regulations (which are concerned with supply of drugs and appliances by chemists, by doctors and to out-patients)(3) for the reference to "£2.20", wherever it appears, there shall be substituted a reference to "£2.40".

3.  In regulation 9(5) of the principal regulations (pre-payment certificates)(4) for the reference to "£12.00" there shall be substituted a reference to "£12.50", and for the reference to "£33.50" there shall be substituted a reference to "£35.00".

4.  For Schedule 1 to the principal regulations(5), there shall be substituted the following Schedule:–

Regulations 3, 4 and 5

"SCHEDULE 1CHARGES FOR ELASTIC HOSIERY

5.  For Schedule 1A to the principal regulations(6), there shall be substituted the following Schedule:–

Regulation 5

"SCHEDULE 1A

6.  For Schedule 2 to the principal regulations(7), there shall be substituted the following Schedule:–

Regulation 6

"SCHEDULE 2CHARGES FOR FABRIC SUPPORTS AND WIGS

Application

7.  These Regulations shall apply only where drugs and appliances are supplied after 31st March 1987 except that–

(a)regulation 3 shall apply where the application referred to in regulation 9(1) of the principal regulations is received after 31st March 1987;

(b)regulation 6 shall apply where the examination or first examination leading to the supply of the specified appliance takes place after 31st March 1987.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances)(Scotland) Regulations 1980. They increase the charges specified for the supply of drugs and appliances, elastic hosiery and human hair wigs under the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978.

The charge for most items on prescription or supplied to an out-patient is increased from £2.20 to £2.40. The charge for an elastic stocking is increased from £2.20 to £2.40, and for tights from £4.40 to £4.80 per pair. The charges for two types of human hair wig are increased from £55.00 and £86.00 to £58.00 and £90.00 respectively. The sums prescribed for pre-payment certificates of exemption from prescription charges are increased from £12.00 to £12.50 for a four month certificate, and from £33.50 to £35.00 for a twelve month certificate.