Patient preference of practitioner
18.—(1) Where the contractor has accepted an application for inclusion in his list of patients, he shall –
(a)notify the patient (or, in the case of a child or incapable adult, the person who made the application on their behalf) of the patient’s right to express a preference to receive services from a particular performer or class of performer either generally or in relation to any particular condition; and
(b)record in writing any such preference expressed by or on behalf of the patient.
(2) The contractor shall endeavour to comply with any reasonable preference expressed under sub-paragraph (1) but need not do so if the preferred performer –
(a)has reasonable grounds for refusing to provide services to the patient; or
(b)does not routinely perform the service in question within the practice.