Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) Regulations 1986 which provide for the arrangements under which ophthalmic medical practitioners and ophthalmic opticians (“contractors”) provide general ophthalmic services (sight testing services).

Regulation 2 amends the contractors' terms of service.

Regulation 2(2) substitutes a new paragraph 3 to require a contractor to provide general ophthalmic services at his practice premises unless he agrees to provide such services at the place where the patient normally resides. Paragraph 5 is amended (regulation 2(3)) so as not to require a contractor to display a notice in accordance with that paragraph elsewhere than at his practice premises. An amendment is made to paragraph 9(5) to remove a contractor’s right to recover from a patient any amount in respect of loss of remunerative time or travelling expenses occasioned by a visit to that patient’s home.