PART 5Contracts: required terms

Out of hours services18

1

Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), a contract must provide for the provision by a contractor of out of hours services.

2

A contractor whose contract includes the provision of out of hours services—

a

is only required to provide out of hours services to a patient if, in the contractor's reasonable opinion having regard to the patient's medical condition, it would not be reasonable in all the circumstances for the patient to wait to obtain those services; and

b

must, in the provision of out of hours services—

i

meet the quality requirements set out in F3the Integrated Urgent Care Key Performance Indicators published on 25th June 2018, and

ii

comply with any requests for information which it receives from, or on behalf of, F4NHS England about the provision by the contractor of out of hours services to its registered patients in such manner, and before the end of such period, as is specified in the request.

3

Where a contractor is not required to provide out of hours services under a contract or, by virtue of Part 6, has opted out of the provision of such services under the contract, the contractor must—

a

monitor the quality of the out of hours services which are offered or provided to the contractor's registered patients having regard to the F1Integrated Urgent Care Key Performance Indicators referred to in paragraph (2)(b), and record, and act appropriately in relation to, any concerns arising;

b

record any patient feedback received, including any complaints;

c

report to F4NHS England , either at the request of F4NHS England or otherwise, any concerns arising about the quality of the out of hours services which are offered or provided to patients having regard to—

i

any patient feedback received, including any complaints, and

ii

the quality requirements set out in the F2Integrated Urgent Care Key Performance Indicators referred to in sub-paragraph (2)(b).