National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978

Valid from 13/02/2004

[F1 17N Other mandatory contract terms U.K.

(1) A general medical services contract must include (in addition to provisions required by or under other provisions of this Part) such provision as may be prescribed.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may in particular make provision as to—

(a) the manner in which, and the standards to which, services must be provided;

(b) the persons who are to perform services;

(c) the persons to whom services are to be provided;

(d) the right of patients to choose the persons from whom they are to receive services;

(e) the variation of terms of the contract (except terms required by or under this Part);

(f) rights of entry and inspection (including inspection of clinical records and other documents);

(g) the circumstances in which, and the manner in which, the contract may be terminated;

(h) enforcement;

(i) the adjudication of disputes.

(3) Regulations making provision in pursuance of subsection (2)(c) may make provision as to the circumstances in which a contractor—

(a) must, or may, accept a person as a patient to whom services are provided under the contract;

(b) may decline to accept a person as such a patient; or

(c) may terminate the contractor’s responsibility for a patient.

(4) Regulations making provision in pursuance of subsection (2)(e) may—

(a) make provision as to the circumstances in which a Health Board may unilaterally vary the terms of a contract;

(b) make provision suspending or terminating any duty under the contract to provide services of a prescribed description.

(5) Regulations making provision of the kind described in subsection (4)(b) may prescribe services by reference to the manner or circumstances in which they are provided.

(6) A general medical services contract must contain provision requiring the contractor to comply with any directions given by the Scottish Ministers for the purposes of this section as to the drugs, medicines or other substances which may, or may not, be ordered for patients in the provision of primary medical services under the contract.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 17J-17O and cross-heading inserted (13.2.2004 for certain purposes otherwise 1.4.2004) by Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 1), ss. 4, 9(1); S.S.I. 2004/58, art. 2(1)(3), Sch.