The Health Services (Primary Care) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997

Pilot schemes

3.—(1) In this Order “pilot scheme” means one or more agreements made by a board with respect to its area and in accordance with this Part under which—

(a) personal medical services are provided (otherwise than by the board); or

(b) personal dental services are provided (otherwise than by the board).

(2) A pilot scheme may not combine arrangements for the provision of personal medical services with arrangements for the provision of personal dental services.

(3) A pilot scheme may include arrangements for the provision of health services—

(a) which are not personal medical services or personal dental services; but

(b) which may be provided under Part II of the 1972 Order.

(4) In this Order “piloted services” means services provided in accordance with a pilot scheme (including any services to which the scheme applies by virtue of paragraph (3)).

(5) Except to such extent as may be prescribed—

(a) a patient for whom personal medical services are provided under a pilot scheme is not to count as a person for whom arrangements must be made by the board concerned under Article 56 of the 1972 Order;

(b) a patient for whom personal dental services am provided under a pilot scheme is not to count as a person for whom arrangements must be made by the board concerned under Article 61 of the 1972 Order.

(6) The functions of an HSS trust include power to provide piloted services, and to do so as a member of a qualifying body (within the meaning of Article 4 or 5).

(7) For the purposes of this Part—

“personal medical services” means medical services of a kind that may be provided by a general medical practitioner in accordance with arrangements made under Part VI of the 1972 Order; and

“personal dental services” means dental services of a kind that may be provided by a general dental practitioner in accordance with arrangements made under Part VI of the 1972 Order.