The National Health Service (Personal Medical Services Agreements) Regulations 2004

Out of hours services

20.  Subject to paragraph 8 of Schedule 5, an agreement under which essential services are to be provided before 1st January 2005 (whether or not such services will be provided after that date) must provide for out of hours services to be provided throughout the out of hours period unless—

(a) the relevant body has accepted in writing, prior to the signing of the agreement, a written request from the contractor that the agreement should not require the contractor to make such provision;

(b) the contractor has opted out of providing such services in the out of hours period in accordance with paragraph 1 or 2 of Schedule 4; or

(c) the agreement has been otherwise varied to exclude a requirement to make such provision.