The General Dental Services, Personal Dental Services and Abolition of the Dental Practice Board Transitional and Consequential Provisions Order 2006

Patient information leaflet

23.—(1) This article applies where a relevant pilot scheme provider had produced a pilot leaflet in accordance with the terms in the pilot scheme agreement which give effect to the requirements in the PDS Directions and that leaflet was, on 31st March 2006, available to patients.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the patient information leaflet made available to patients on or after 1st April 2006 by the succeeding contractor need not, until 1st August 2006, include all the information specified in the terms of—

(a) the personal dental services agreement which give effect to Schedule 4 to the PDS Agreements Regulations; or

(b) the general dental services contract which give effect to Schedule 4 to the GDS Contracts Regulations.

(3) The succeeding contractor must from the date of the commencement of services under the personal dental services agreement or the general dental services contract make available to patients in written form the information specified in paragraph (4) together with the pilot leaflet referred to in paragraph (1).

(4) The information referred to in paragraph (3) is information regarding—

(a) the services available under the personal dental services agreement or the general dental services contract;

(b) the normal surgery days and hours of the practice;

(c) the arrangement for dental services for the days and hours that fall outside normal surgery days and hours (whether or not provided by the contractor) and how the patient may contact such services;

(d) if the services referred to in sub-paragraph (c) are not provided by the contractor, the fact that the Primary Care Trust referred to in sub-paragraph (g) is responsible for commissioning the services;

(e) the telephone number of NHS Direct and details of NHS Direct online;

(f) how patients may make a complaint or comment on the provision of services; and

(g) the name, postal and website address and telephone number of the Primary Care Trust with whom the contractor is a party to the agreement or contract.