Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 1992 (“the Pharmaceutical Services Regulations”) and the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Regulations 1992 to take account of the fact that certain appliances may be available for prescription within the NHS only in circumstances specified by the Secretary of State.

Regulation 2(2)(c) amends the definition of “nurse prescriber” in the Pharmaceutical Services Regulations to reflect the extended prescribing responsibilities granted to certain nurses. The Secretary of State’s determination as to those drugs, medicines and listed appliances which may be ordered by nurse prescribers is currently set out in Part XVIIB of the Drug Tariff, copies of which may be obtained from the Stationery Office, PO Box 29, Norwich NR3 1GN.

Regulation 2(2)(b), (3) and (6) also make changes to the Pharmaceutical Services Regulations consequential upon the commencement of section 42 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001, which substituted section 41 of the National Health Service Act 1977. Regulation 2(2)(a) corrects a numbering error in the Pharmaceutical Services Regulations.

As a result of the transfer of certain functions of the Secretary of State in relation to Wales to the National Assembly for Wales, these amendments apply to England only.