Office of Public Sector Information

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

1.  These Regulations revoke and replace, with amendments, the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Regulations 2001(27) as amended.

2.  Accordingly, these Regulations abolish charges in respect of drugs and appliances supplied to patients registered with GPs in Wales, or registered with GPs in England but holding valid entitlement cards, where such drugs and appliances are supplied by chemists providing pharmaceutical services (regulation 3), by doctors providing pharmaceutical services (regulation 4), by Local Health Boards and NHS trusts (regulation 5) and at walk-in centres (regulation 6) and when they are supplied in accordance with patient group directions (regulation 7). Regulations 3 and 4 further provide for charges for drugs and appliances to any patients other than patients registered with GPs in Wales or registered with GPs in England but holding valid entitlement cards.

3.  Save in the circumstances outlined in paragraph 2 above, these Regulations provide for the making and recovery of charges for drugs and appliances supplied under the National Health Service Act 1977(28). Provision for dental charges and optical charges is made separately.

4.  The Regulations provide for exemptions from payment of charges for drugs and appliances which will apply to patients other than those registered with GPs in Wales or registered with GPs in England but holding valid entitlement cards (regulation 8) and further provide for patients registered with GPs in Wales or registered with GPs in England but holding valid entitlement cards to apply for exemption certificates (regulation 9).

5.  Regulation 11 provides for the issuing of entitlement cards enabling Welsh residents registered with GPs in England to obtain drugs and appliances free of charge where the same are dispensed by chemists or doctors within Wales.

6.  The Regulations also provide for exemption from charges for prisoners (regulation 10).

7.  A regulatory appraisal has been prepared in respect of these Regulations and placed in the library of the National Assembly for Wales.