The National Health Service (General Medical Services) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2002

“Consideration of vacancies by Health Authorities

12.—(1) Regulation 17 (decision by Health Authority as to type of vacancy) shall be amended in accordance with the following paragraphs.

(2) For paragraph (1) substitute—

“(1) This regulation applies where a Health Authority decides that there is a vacancy for an additional doctor in an area.”;

(3) In paragraphs (2) and (3) for “If the Health Authority made a reference pursuant to regulation 11(1)” in each place where those words occur substitute “Where the Health Authority considered in accordance with regulation 12(2)(a) whether to declare a vacancy”.

(4) For paragraph (5) substitute—

“(5) In making their decision the Health Authority must—

(a) in a case to which regulation 12(3)(b) applies, consult any Health Authority in whose area the prospective patients reside; and

(b) take account, in particular, of the needs of the patients in the area.”.