
1 

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the General Ophthalmic Services (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and shall come into operation on 9th February 2009.
(2) In these Regulations “the principal Regulations” means the General Ophthalmic Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007.
2 
In regulation 2 of the principal Regulations (Interpretation), in the appropriate places in the alphabetical order, insert—“
 “emergency mobile services” means general ophthalmic services provided at a location, other than the contractor’s practice premises, where a contractor has made reasonable arrangements to secure that a patient requiring prompt care will receive such care as soon as appropriately possible. For the purposes of this definition a patient requires prompt care, if in the clinical opinion of the contractor—
(a) the patient’s sight is likely to deteriorate without such care;
(b) the patient is in significant pain by reason of his eye condition; or
(c) the patient may be at serious risk of sustaining a personal injury as a direct result of having an uncorrected refractive error;
 “prompt care” in relation to “emergency mobile services” does not necessitate a repair or replacement of an optical appliance unless paragraph (c) of the definition of “emergency mobile services” applies;”.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety on 19th January 2009.
Christine Jendoubi
A senior officer of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance and Personnel on 19th January 2009.
Mary McIvor
A senior officer of the Department of Finance and Personnel
