Search Legislation

The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations 2004

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

PART 1PROVISION OF SERVICES

Premises

1.  Subject to any plan which is included in the contract pursuant to regulation 18(3), the contractor shall ensure that the premises used for the provision of services under the contract are—

(a)suitable for the delivery of those services; and

(b)sufficient to meet the reasonable needs of the contractor’s patients.

Attendance at practice premises

2.—(1) The contractor shall take steps to ensure that any patient who—

(a)has not previously made an appointment; and

(b)attends at the practice premises during the normal hours for essential services,

is provided with such services by an appropriate health care professional during that surgery period except in the circumstances specified in sub-paragraph (2).

(2) The circumstances referred to in sub-paragraph (1) are that—

(a)it is more appropriate for the patient to be referred elsewhere for services under the Act; or

(b)he is then offered an appointment to attend again within a time which is appropriate and reasonable having regard to all the circumstances and his health would not thereby be jeopardised.

Attendance outside practice premises

3.—(1) In the case of a patient whose medical condition is such that in the reasonable opinion of the contractor—

(a)attendance on the patient is required; and

(b)it would be inappropriate for him to attend at the practice premises,

the contractor shall provide services to that patient at whichever in its judgement is the most appropriate of the places set out in sub-paragraph (2).

(2) The places referred to in sub-paragraph (1) are—

(a)the place recorded in the patient’s medical records as being his last home address;

(b)such other place as the contractor has informed the patient and the Primary Care Trust is the place where it has agreed to visit and treat the patient; or

(c)some other place in the contractor’s practice area.

(3) Nothing in this paragraph prevents the contractor from—

(a)arranging for the referral of a patient without first seeing the patient, in a case where the medical condition of that patient makes that course of action appropriate; or

(b)visiting the patient in circumstances where this paragraph does not place it under an obligation to do so.

Newly registered patients

4.—(1) Where a patient has been—

(a)accepted on a contractor’s list of patients under paragraph 15; or

(b)assigned to that list by the Primary Care Trust,

the contractor shall, in addition and without prejudice to its other obligations in respect of that patient under the contract, invite the patient to participate in a consultation either at its practice premises or, if the medical condition of the patient so warrants, at one of the places referred to in paragraph 3(2).

(2) An invitation under sub-paragraph (1) shall be issued within six months of the date of the acceptance of the patient on, or their assignment to, the contractor’s list.

(3) Where a patient (or, where appropriate, in the case of a patient who is a child, his parent) agrees to participate in a consultation mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) the contractor shall, in the course of that consultation make such inquiries and undertake such examinations as appear to it to be appropriate in all the circumstances.

Patients not seen within three years

5.  Where a registered patient who—

(a)has attained the age of 16 years but has not attained the age of 75 years; and

(b)has attended neither a consultation with, nor a clinic provided by, the contractor within the period of three years prior to the date of his request,

requests a consultation the contractor shall, in addition and without prejudice to its other obligations in respect of that patient under the contract, provide such a consultation in the course of which it shall make such inquiries and undertake such examinations as appear to it to be appropriate in all the circumstances.

Patients aged 75 years and over

6.—(1) Where a registered patient who—

(a)has attained the age of 75 years; and

(b)has not participated in a consultation under this paragraph within the period of twelve months prior to the date of his request,

requests a consultation, the contractor shall, in addition and without prejudice to its other obligations in respect of that patient under the contract, provide such a consultation in the course of which it shall make such inquiries and undertake such examinations as appear to it to be appropriate in all the circumstances.

(2) A consultation under sub-paragraph (1) shall take place in the home of the patient where, in the reasonable opinion of the contractor, it would be inappropriate, as a result of the patient’s medical condition, for him to attend at the practice premises.

Clinical reports

7.—(1) Where the contractor provides any clinical services, other than under a private arrangement, to a patient who is not on its list of patients, it shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, provide a clinical report relating to the consultation, and any treatment provided, to the Primary Care Trust.

(2) The Primary Care Trust shall send any report received under sub-paragraph (1)—

(a)to the person with whom the patient is registered for the provision of essential services or their equivalent; or

(b)if the person referred to in paragraph (a) is not known to it, to the Primary Care Trust in whose area the patient is resident.

Storage of vaccines

8.  The contractor shall ensure that—

(a)all vaccines are stored in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions; and

(b)all refrigerators in which vaccines are stored have a maximum/minimum thermometer and that readings are taken on all working days.

Infection control

9.  The contractor shall ensure that it has appropriate arrangements for infection control and decontamination.

Criteria for out of hours services

10.  A contractor whose contract includes the provision of out of hours services shall only be required to provide such services if, in the reasonable opinion of the contractor in the light of the patient’s medical condition, it would not be reasonable in all the circumstances for the patient to wait for the services required until the next time at which he could obtain such services during core hours.

Standards for out of hours services

11.  From 1st January 2005, a contractor which provides out of hours services must, in the provision of such services, meet the quality standards set out in the document entitled “Quality Standards in the Delivery of GP Out of Hours Services” published on 20th June 2002(1).

Duty of co-operation in relation to additional, enhanced and out of hours services

12.—(1) A contractor which does not provide to its registered patients or to persons whom it has accepted as temporary residents—

(a)a particular additional service;

(b)a particular enhanced service; or

(c)out of hours services, either at all or in respect of some periods or some services,

shall comply with the requirements specified in sub-paragraph (2).

(2) The requirements referred to in sub-paragraph (1) are that the contractor shall—

(a)co-operate, insofar as is reasonable, with any person responsible for the provision of that service or those services;

(b)comply in core hours with any reasonable request for information from such a person or from the Primary Care Trust relating to the provision of that service or those services; and

(c)in the case of out of hours services, take reasonable steps to ensure that any patient who contacts the practice premises during the out of hours period is provided with information about how to obtain services during that period.

(3) Nothing in this paragraph shall require a contractor whose contract does not include the provision of out of hours services to make itself available during the out of hours period.

13.  Where a contractor is to cease to be required to provide to its patients—

(a)a particular additional service;

(b)a particular enhanced service; or

(c)out of hours services, either at all or in respect of some periods or some services,

it shall comply with any reasonable request for information relating to the provision of that service or those services made by the Primary Care Trust or by any person with whom the Trust intends to enter into a contract for the provision of such services.

(1)

The document “Quality Standards in the Delivery of GP Out of Hours Services” published on 20th June 2002 is published by the Department of Health on its website at www.doh.gov.uk/pricare/qualitystandards.htm or a copy may be obtained by writing to Primary Care, Room 7E28, Department of Health, Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7UE or by e-mailing OOHAccreditation@doh.gov.uk.

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

You have chosen to open The Whole Instrument

The Whole Instrument you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Instrument as a PDF

The Whole Instrument you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Instrument

The Whole Instrument you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as made version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources