General Medical Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997

Filling or dispersal of medical practice vacancies

8.—(1) Where a practice has been rendered vacant by—

(a) the death of a doctor whose name is included in the medical list by virtue of regulation 4; or

(b) the removal or withdrawal of such a doctor from the medical list,

the Board for the area in which the vacancy occurs shall, after consultation with the Local Medical Committee, refer the matter to the Medical Committee and include the information set out in Part I of Schedule 3.

(2) The Medical Committee shall, in accordance with general principles drawn up by the Department in consultation with the Boards and such organisation as may be recognised by the Department as representing the medical profession, advise the Board as to whether or not the vacancy should be filled.

(3) Where a Board decides, after consideration of the advice given under paragraph (2), that a vacancy should be filled, the Agency shall, on behalf of the Board, give public notice of such vacancy for a doctor by advertisement in the press or otherwise.