7. For regulation 12 (decisions of the Medical Practices Committee) substitute—
12.—(1) A Health Authority may consider at any time whether there is, or will be, a vacancy for a doctor to provide general medical services in their area.
(2) A Health Authority must consider whether there is, or will be, a vacancy for a doctor in their area if—
(a)it has been asked to do so by a doctor who provides general medical services in their area; or
(b)a doctor has died, or has withdrawn from, or been removed from, the Health Authority’s medical list.
(3) Where paragraph (2) applies and where a doctor’s prospective patients are situated in the area of more than one Health Authority, any of those Health Authorities may—
(a)elect to consider separately whether there is a vacancy for a doctor in respect of the prospective patients residing in their area; or
(b)agree to deal jointly with one or more other Health Authorities with prospective patients residing in their areas.
(4) In a case falling within paragraph (3)(b), the Health Authority in whose area reside the largest number of prospective patients shall decide whether to declare a vacancy, and, if it does so, it shall proceed in accordance with regulation 13.
(5) If a Health Authority is considering whether or not there is, or will be, a vacancy, the Health Authority shall before reaching a decision—
(a)consider the matters set out in Part I of Schedule 3;
(b)obtain from any other Health Authority in whose area prospective patients reside, such information as it thinks necessary.
(6) In reaching their decision a Health Authority shall, in particular, take account of—
(a)persons in their area performing personal medical services;
(b)any relevant financial considerations;
(c)the effect of creating a vacancy on any other Health Authority or Health Board in whose area prospective patients reside;
(d)any services outside general medical services and personal medical services already provided by doctors in their area.”.