15. After paragraph 15 of Part 1 of Schedule 3 to the GMS Contracts Regulations (duty of co-operation), insert—
15A.—(1) A contractor must comply with the requirements in sub-paragraph (2) where it is—
(a)signed up to the Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service Scheme (“the Scheme”); or
(b)not signed up to the Scheme but its registered patients or temporary residents, are provided with services under the Scheme (“the services”)(1) by a contractor which is a member of a primary care network.
(2) The requirements specified in this sub-paragraph are that the contractor must—
(a)co-operate, in so far as is reasonable, with any person responsible for the provision of the services;
(b)comply in core hours with any reasonable request for information from such a person or from the Board relating to the provision of the services;
(c)have due regard to the guidance published by the Board(2);
(d)participate in primary care network meetings, in so far as is reasonable;
(e)take reasonable steps to provide information to its registered patients about the services, including information on how to access the services and any changes to them; and
(f)ensure that it has in place suitable arrangements to enable the sharing of data to support the delivery of the services, business administration and analysis activities.
(3) For the purposes of this paragraph, “primary care network” means a network of contractors and other providers of services which has been approved by the Board, serving an identified geographical area with a minimum population of 30,000 people.”.
The Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service Contract Specification is available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/gp/gpfv/investment/gp-contract/. Hard copies are available from New Business Models team, NHS England, Area 2D, Skipton House, 80 London Road, London, SE1 6HL.
The Board’s guidance is published at https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/network-contract-directed-enhanced-service-des-guidance-2019-20/. Hard copies may be obtained by writing to New Business Models team, NHS England, Area 2D, Skipton House, 80 London Road, London, SE1 6HL.