General Medical Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997

Obtaining maternity medical services

34.—(1) Maternity medical services shall comprise—

(a) the provision of personal medical services to a woman during the ante-natal period;

(b) the provision of personal medical services to a woman during labour;

(c) the provision of personal medical services to a woman and to her baby, as specified in paragraph 3(b) of Schedule 5, during the post-natal period; and

(d) the provision of a full post-natal examination.

(2) A woman who holds a current medical card and who, after a doctor has diagnosed that she is pregnant, requires the provision of maternity medical services, may apply for the provision of any or all of the services mentioned in paragraph (1) to any doctor whose name is included in the obstetric list and an application under this paragraph shall be made in writing on a form provided by the Agency and issued by the doctor.

(3) A woman who has already been accepted as a patient by a doctor to whom she has applied in accordance with paragraph (2) but who is residing temporarily outside his practice area, may apply to any doctor whose name is included in the obstetric list in the area in which she is temporarily resident for the provision of such services as she may require during her period of temporary residence.

(4) A doctor with whom a woman has made an arrangement under paragraph (2) or (3) for the provision of any or all of the services mentioned in paragraph (1) shall provide such services as are specified in Schedule 5.

(5) The provisions of regulation 19 shall apply to the making of an arrangement by a woman with a doctor for the provision of any or all of the services mentioned in paragraph (1) as they apply to the making of an application for inclusion in a doctor’s list.

(6) An arrangement between a woman and a doctor for the provision of any or all of the services mentioned in paragraph (1) shall be terminated—

(a) by the woman—

(i) so notifying the Board in writing;

(ii) so notifying the doctor in writing who shall notify the Board in writing; or

(iii) making a new arrangement with another doctor who shall notify the Board in writing within 7 days of the making of the new arrangement;

(b) by the doctor making an application under paragraph 12 of the terms of service; or

(c) where the woman is a temporary resident, when—

(i) she ceases to be resident in the doctor’s practice area; or

(ii) the doctor’s responsibility for her is terminated under paragraph 11 of the terms of service,

whichever first occurs.

(7) Where the Board receives notification in accordance with paragraph (6)(a)(i) or (iii), it shall within 7 days notify the original doctor in writing that the woman’s arrangement with him has been terminated.