23.—(1) Regulation 18K (practice vacancies where patients are subject to pilot scheme proposals) shall be amended in accordance with the following paragraphs.
(2) In paragraph (1)—
(a)for sub-paragraph (a) substitute—
“(a)a Health Authority is considering under regulation 12(1) or (2) whether to declare a vacancy, or has declared a vacancy pursuant to regulation 13(1)(a); and”;
(b)for sub-paragraph (d) substitute—
“(d)either—
(i)the Health Authority is considering under regulation 12(1) or (2) whether to declare a vacancy but has not yet reached a decision, or
(ii)the Health Authority has declared a vacancy for an additional doctor in the area but the Health Authority has not yet nominated or approved a doctor pursuant to regulation 18A, 18B or 18C.”.
(3) For paragraph (2) substitute—
“(2) In a case referred to in paragraph (1), without prejudice to any steps that may already have been taken, a Health Authority shall not—
(a)consider under regulation 12(1) or (2) whether to declare a vacancy;
(b)declare a vacancy pursuant to regulation 13(1)(a);
(c)decide whether an additional doctor should be a member of a partnership or a sole practitioner pursuant to regulation 17(4);
(d)nominate or approve an additional doctor pursuant to regulation 18A, 18B or 18C; or
(e)give notice or further notice of the vacancy in accordance with regulation 18D,
until such time as one of the events set out in paragraph (3) has occurred.”.
(4) Omit paragraph (4).