Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 and come into force on 1st April 2018.

(2) In these Regulations, "the Charges Regulations" means the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Regulations 2015(2).

Amendment of the Charges Regulations

2.-(1) The Charges Regulations are amended as follows.

(2) In each of the following provisions, for "£8.60", at each place that it occurs, substitute "£8.80"-

(a)regulation 3(1)(a), (b) and (c), (2)(a), (b) and (c) and (7) (supply of drugs and appliances by chemists);

(b)regulation 4(1)(a), (b) and (c) and (4) (supply of drugs and appliances by doctors);

(c)regulation 5(1)(a), (b) and (c) (out of hours supply of drugs and appliances by providers of out of hours services);

(d)regulation 6(1)(a), (d) and (e) (supply of drugs and appliances by NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts);

(e)regulation 7(1)(a), (b) and (c) and (5) (supply of drugs and appliances at walk-in centres);

(f)regulation 8(1) (supply of drugs under Patient Group Directions); and

(g)regulation 9(1)(a), (d) and (e) and (8) (supply of drugs and appliances by other providers of NHS services).

(3) In each of the following provisions, for "£17.20", at each place that it occurs, substitute "£17.60"-

(a)regulation 3(1)(a) and (2)(a) (supply of drugs and appliances by chemists);

(b)regulation 4(1)(a) (supply of drugs and appliances by doctors);

(c)regulation 5(1)(a) (out of hours supply of drugs and appliances by providers of out of hours services);

(d)regulation 6(1)(a) and (c) (supply of drugs and appliances by NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts);

(e)regulation 7(1)(a) (supply of drugs and appliances at walk-in centres); and

(f)regulation 9(1)(a) and (b) (supply of drugs and appliances by other providers of NHS services).

(4) In column (2) of Schedule 1 (charges for fabric supports and wigs)-

(a)for "£28.40" substitute "£28.85";

(b)for "£42.95" substitute "£43.60";

(c)for "£70.15" substitute "£71.25";

(d)for "£185.80" substitute "£188.70"; and

(e)for "£271.70" substitute "£275.95".

Transitional provision relating to the Charges Regulations

3.  Where, on or after 1st April 2018, an appliance specified in Schedule 1 to the Charges Regulations (charges for fabric supports and wigs) is supplied pursuant to an order given before that date, the Charges Regulations are to have effect in relation to that supply as if these Regulations had not come into force.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Regulations 2015 (the Charges Regulations).

The Charges Regulations include the charges that are payable for the supply of NHS drugs and appliances in England. Regulation 2 amends regulations 3 to 9 of the Charges Regulations to increase the single prescription charge applied for the supply of drugs, appliances and elastic hosiery from £8.60 to £8.80 (if the hosiery charge is for a pair, the charge is double that amount). This is an increase of 2.1%. There are also increases to the charges for wigs and fabric supports of around 1.6%.

Regulation 4 makes transitional provision in relation to fabric supports and wigs supplied pursuant to NHS prescriptions before 1st April 2018.