Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make provision for the preparation and keeping, by Health Boards, of lists of medical practitioners approved to assist in the provision of general medical services. Under section 24B(3) of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 only practitioners whose names are included in such a list may assist in the provision of such services under arrangements made by Boards.

In particular the Regulations provide for–

(a)terms and conditions of service (analogous to those applying to the principal provider of those services) with which persons whose names are included in such a list must comply (regulation 3 and Schedule 1);

(b)the matters to be specified in a supplementary list (regulation 4);

(c)changes in information listed or withdrawal from a list (regulation 5);

(d)removal of names from a list when no assistance has been provided (regulation 6);

(e)removal of names from a list on grounds of death, ceasing or suspension from practice and conviction for certain offences (regulation 7);

(f)the form and content of application for inclusion of a name in a supplementary list (regulation 8 and Schedule 2);

(g)the circumstances in which application must be refused or deferred (regulation 9);

(h)reinclusion of a name in a supplementary list in certain circumstances (regulation 10);

(i)the publication and updating of supplementary lists (regulation 11);

(j)the arrangements for the supply of drugs and appliances by practitioners whose names are included in a supplementary list (regulation 12);

(k)repayment of sums overpaid, by practitioners whose names are included in supplementary lists (regulation 13);

(l)appeals against refusal of applications for inclusion of a name in a supplementary list and against refusal of approval to supply certain services (regulation 14); and

(m)certain consequential amendments of the National Health Service (General Medical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 1995.