Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (“the 2006 Regulations”) which make provision for general ophthalmic services under the National Health Service in Scotland.

Regulation 2 of these Regulations amends regulation 2 of the 2006 Regulations to insert new definitions.

Regulation 3 of these Regulations amends paragraph 14 of schedule 1 of the 2006 Regulations to insert new sub paragraphs (4A) to (4C) which contain requirements to be followed when referring a patient that shows signs of an anterior eye condition to an ophthalmic medical practitioner or optometrist independent prescriber.

Regulation 4 of these Regulations inserts a new paragraph 14A into schedule 1 of the 2006 Regulations which makes provision for a Health Board to enter into arrangements with ophthalmic medical practitioners and optometrist independent prescribers for the provision of general ophthalmic services for specified anterior eye conditions (such conditions being specified in the arrangements), such practitioners and prescribers being known as “specialists” for the purposes of those arrangements.