National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978

Yn ddilys o 07/07/2010

[F175C Prior authorisationS

(1)An eligible person may apply to the Health Board in whose area that person resides for prior authorisation for the purposes of section 75B.

(2)Prior authorisation must be given if the eligible services are specified services which—

(a)are the same as or equivalent to those that the Health Board in whose area the eligible person resides would make available under this Act in the circumstances of the person's case; and

(b)are not available to the eligible person from the Health Board without undue delay.

(3)Prior authorisation may be given for any other eligible services falling within section 75B(2)(b) or (c).

(4)“Undue delay” means that the services cannot be provided within a period of time which is acceptable on the basis of medical evidence as to the clinical needs of the eligible person, taking into account that person's state of health at the time the decision is made and the probable course of the medical condition to which the services relate.

(5)In assessing whether there is undue delay for the purposes of subsection (2), the Health Board must consider—

(a)the eligible person's medical history;

(b)the extent of any pain, disability, discomfort or other suffering that is attributable to the medical condition to which the services are to relate;

(c)whether any such pain, disability, discomfort or suffering makes it impossible or extremely difficult for the patient to carry out ordinary daily tasks; and

(d)the extent to which the services would be likely to alleviate, or enable the alleviating of, the pain, disability, discomfort or suffering.

(6)Any authorisation under this section must be in writing.]

Textual Amendments