N.H.S. Form O.S.C.3 (Rev. 2/71) (Hansard, 11 June 1971)

§ Mr. Alison

Yes. Form O.S.C.3 is a general explanatory leaflet sent to all patients who have an approved National Health Service prescription for glasses.

Following is the form:

379W

SINGLE VISION LENTICULAR LENSES
		Cylindrical or Sphero-Cylindrical
		Cylindrical Power (Plus or Minus)
	Spherical	0.25 to 2.00D	2.25 to 4.00D	4.25 to 6.00D
Glass, cemented, convex	£2.60	£2.75	£2.80	£3.10
Glass, concave	£2.25	£2.40	£2.40	£2.40
		Cylindrical Power (Plus)
Plastics, concave—
6.00 to 13.00D	£2.30	£2.45	£2.60	£2.75
13.25 to 21.00D	£2.75	£2.95	£3.05	£3.20
		Cylindrical Power (Minus)
Plastics, convex	£2.60	£2.75	£2.80	£3.10
OTHER LENSES: FROSTED AND CHAVASSE—£1.25.

NOTES:

1. D stands for Dioptre(s).

2. Where more than one pair of glasses is supplied following a new prescription or change of prescription the charge for EACH LENS SUPPLIED AFTER THE FIRST TWO IS REDUCED BY 40p.

3. The above tables do not in any way alter the range of lenses available through the General Ophthalmic Services as set out in the Statement of Fees and Charges.

4. An additional charge is made if toughened or laminated glass safety lenses are supplied at your request.

Frames. If a new frame is needed, you can ask the optician to show you the National Health Service range. Plastics frames are normally available in six colours (light brown mottled, dark brown mottled, flesh, crystal, black and ice blue).

A charge is made for the supply of an N.H.S. frame. The charge is between about 70p and £1.75, according to the type of frame chosen.

At your request, N.H.S. lenses may be fitted to a privately supplied frame (for which you must pay the optician's charge), provided it has a surrounding protective rim conforming to N.H.S. lens shapes. Where such a frame is of a metal or metal-combination type the optician may make an additional charge for glazing, or any subsequent re-glazing.

If any other type of frame (such as a rimless or semi-rimless one, or one that is of upswept shape) is used, N.H.S. lenses cannot be supplied at all, and the optician will supply and charge for both lenses and frames as a private transaction. The Executive Council is unable to make any allowance in respect of glasses supplied privately, and any question in regard to such glasses will be a matter between yourself and the optician.

For Children

Children under 10 years of age may be supplied free of charge with glasses using N.H.S. standard lenses in N.H.S. frames from a children's standard range which the optician will show you, with the available choice of colours.

If other N.H.S. or privately supplied frames are used, the same charges must be paid as for adults

Children who are 10 years old or over at the time of the sight-test, and are either under 16 years of age or, if aged 16 or more, still attending full-time at school, may also receive free glasses from the children's range. Alternatively, they may be supplied with free N.H.S. standard lenses if any other N.H.S. frame is used: the charge for the frame must then be paid. A child aged 16 or more desiring free N.H.S. glasses or lenses must produce a certificate from his headmaster or the local education authority confirming that he is still attending school full-time ("School" does not include any establishment of further education, such as a technical college).

If a privately supplied frame is used, the charges for children are the same as for adults.

Help towards paying the charges

Persons receiving a weekly supplementary pension, a supplementary allowance or family income supplement from the Department of Health and Social Security can get help with these charges. Other persons aged 16 or over (whether or not in work) can also qualify for help if they cannot afford the charges without hardship. A claim form (F.1.) which can be obtained from the optician gives further information about the circumstances in which the Department of Health and Social Security can help with the charges.