The National Health Service (Primary Medical Services Section 17C Agreements) (Scotland) Regulations 2018

Patient online appointment services

40.—(1) A provider must provide its registered patients with—

(a) an optional online appointment service; and

(b) an optional online repeat prescription service; and

(c) an optional online repeat prescription information service,

in a manner which is capable of being electronically integrated with the computer systems of the provider’s practice and using appropriate systems authorised by the Health Board .

(2) The requirements in sub-paragraph (1) do not apply where the provider does not have access to computer systems and software which would enable it to provide the services listed in that sub-paragraph.

(3) If the provider provides an optional online appointment service, the provider must regularly consider whether it is desirable, in order to meet the reasonable needs of its registered patients, to increase the proportion of appointments which are made available to registered patients through that service and if it is so desirable, to increase the proportion of appointments accordingly

(4) If a provider provides any of the services referred to in sub-paragraph (1), the provider must promote that service to its registered patients—

(a) in practice leaflets in accordance with paragraph 11 of schedule 6; and

(b) if the provider has a website, on that website.

(5) In this paragraph—

(a) “online appointment service” means a facility which allows patients to book view, amend and cancel appointments online;

(b) “repeat prescription service” means a facility which allows patients to order repeat prescriptions for drugs, medicines or appliances online; and

(c) “online repeat prescription information service” means a facility which allows patients to view online, and print, a list of any drugs, medicines or appliances in respect of which the patient has a repeat prescription.