National Health Service (Primary Care) Act 1997

1 Pilot schemes

(1) In this Act “pilot scheme” means one or more agreements made by an authority with respect to their area and in accordance with this Part under which—

(a) personal medical services are provided (otherwise than by the authority); or

(b) personal dental services are provided (otherwise than by the authority).

(2) A pilot scheme may not combine arrangements for the provision of personal medical services with arrangements for the provision of personal dental services.

(3) A pilot scheme may include arrangements for the provision of services—

(a) which are not personal medical services or personal dental services; but

(b) which may be provided under Part I of the [1977 c. 49.] National Health Service Act 1977 or (as the case may be) Part I or III of the [1978 c. 29.] National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978.

(4) In this Act “piloted services” means services provided in accordance with a pilot scheme (including any services to which the scheme applies by virtue of subsection (3)).

(5) Except to such extent as may be prescribed—

(a) a patient for whom personal medical services are provided under a pilot scheme is not to count as a person for whom arrangements must be made by the authority concerned under section 29 of the 1977 Act or section 19 of the 1978 Act;

(b) a patient for whom personal dental services are provided under a pilot scheme is not to count as a person for whom arrangements must be made by the authority concerned under section 35 of the 1977 Act or section 25 of the 1978 Act.

(6) Regulations may provide—

(a) for functions which are exercisable by a Health Authority in relation to a pilot scheme to be exercisable on behalf of the Authority by a Health Board; and

(b) for functions which are exercisable by a Health Board in relation to a pilot scheme to be exercisable on behalf of the Board by a Health Authority.

(7) The functions of an NHS trust include power to provide piloted services, and to do so as a member of a qualifying body (within the meaning of section 2 or 3).

(8) For the purposes of this Part—

• “authority” means—

  (a)

  in relation to England and Wales, a Health Authority; and

  (b)

  in relation to Scotland, a Health Board;

• “personal medical services” means medical services of a kind that may be provided by a general medical practitioner in accordance with arrangements made under Part II of the 1977 Act or (as the case may be) Part II of the 1978 Act; and

• “personal dental services” means dental services of a kind that may be provided by a general dental practitioner in accordance with arrangements made under Part II of the 1977 Act or (as the case may be) Part II of the 1978 Act.