The General Medical Services Transitional and Consequential Provisions (No. 2) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004

Qualifications of performers

16.—(1) Where, on 1st April 2004, a succeeding contractor continues to employ or engage a person who on 31st March 2004 was employed or engaged in accordance with the requirements of Schedule 2 to the 1997 Regulations by the relevant medical practitioner in relation to whom he is a succeeding contractor, paragraphs (2) and (3) shall apply.

(2) The requirements to make checks contained in the terms of the general medical services contract which give effect to paragraphs 52(1)(b) and 53(1) of Schedule 5 to the 2004 Regulations, or in the equivalent terms of the default contract –

(a) in a case where equivalent checks have previously been carried out in respect of that person by the relevant medical practitioner, shall not apply; or

(b) in any other case, shall apply subject to the modification that the checks may be carried out at any time up to 30th June 2004.

(3) The requirement to obtain references in the term of the general medical services contract which gives effect to paragraph 54 of Schedule 5 to the 2004 Regulations, or in the equivalent term of the default contract, shall not apply if such references have been obtained, checked and found to be satisfactory by the relevant medical practitioner by whom the health care professional was employed or engaged on 31st March 2004.