National Health Service Act 1977

[F145ALocal Medical CommitteesE+W+S

(1)A Primary Care Trust may recognise a committee formed for its area, or for its area and that of one or more other Primary Care Trusts, which it is satisfied is representative of—

(a)the persons to whom subsection (3) applies; and

(b)the persons to whom subsection (4) applies.

(2)A Local Health Board may recognise a committee formed for its area, or for its area and that of one or more other Local Health Boards, which it is satisfied is representative of—

(a)the persons to whom subsection (3) applies; and

(b)the persons to whom subsection (4) applies.

(3)This subsection applies to—

(a)every medical practitioner who, under a general medical services contract entered into by him, is providing primary medical services in the area for which the committee is formed; and

(b)every medical practitioner who is providing general ophthalmic services in that area.

(4)This subsection applies to every other medical practitioner—

(a)who is performing primary medical services in the area for which the committee is formed—

(i)pursuant to section 16CC(2)(a) above;

(ii)in accordance with section 28C arrangements; or

(iii)under a general medical services contract; and

(b)who has notified the Primary Care Trust or Local Health Board that he wishes to be represented by the committee (and has not notified it that he wishes to cease to be so represented).

(5)A committee recognised under this section shall be called the Local Medical Committee for the area for which it is formed.

(6)Any such committee may delegate any of its functions, with or without restrictions or conditions, to sub-committees composed of members of that committee.

(7)Regulations may require a Primary Care Trust or Local Health Board, in the exercise of its functions relating to primary medical services, to consult any committee recognised by it under this section on such occasions and to such extent as may be prescribed.

(8)Regulations may require a Strategic Health Authority, in the exercise of any of its functions which relate to section 28C arrangements for the provision of primary medical services, to consult, on such occasions and to such extent as may be prescribed, any committee—

(a)which is recognised by a Primary Care Trust under this section for the area where the services are (or are to be) provided under those arrangements; and

(b)which is representative of persons providing or performing those services under those arrangements.

(9)A committee recognised under this section shall have such other functions as may be prescribed.

(10)A committee recognised under this section shall in respect of each year determine—

(a)the amount of its administrative expenses for that year attributable to persons of whom its is representative under subsection (1)(a) or (2)(a); and

(b)the amount of its administrative expenses for that year attributable to persons of whom it is representative under subsection (1)(b) or (2)(b).

(11)A Primary Care Trust or Local Health Board may—

(a)on the request of a committee recognised by it, allot to that committee such sums for defraying the expenses referred to in subsection (10)(a) as it may determine; and

(b)deduct the amount of such sums from the remuneration of persons of whom it is representative under subsection (1)(a) or (2)(a) under the general medical services contracts, or arrangements under section 38 above, entered into by them with the Trust or Board.

(12)A committee recognised under this section shall apportion the amount determined by it under subsection (10)(b) among the persons of whom it is representative under subsection (1)(b) or (2)(b); and each such person shall pay in accordance with the committee’s directions the amount so apportioned to him.

(13)References in this section to the administrative expenses of a committee include the travelling and subsistence allowances payable to its members.]

Textual Amendments