Number of units of orthodontic activity
23.—(1) The number of units of orthodontic activity to be provided by the contractor under a personal dental services agreement entered into under Chapter 1 will be determined in accordance with—
(a)paragraphs (3) to (5) in the case of entitlement to a personal dental services agreement under article 14;
(b)paragraphs (2) to (5) and (7) in the case of entitlement to a personal dental services agreement under article 15; or
(c)paragraph (6) in the case of entitlement to a personal dental services agreement under article 16 or 17.
(2) The Local Health Board will, by—
(a)analysing the data it holds in respect of the orthodontic care and treatment provided under section 35 arrangements during the year 1 October 2004 to 30 September 2005 by the person or persons with whom the personal dental services agreement is to be entered into; and
(b)reference to the conversion criteria to units of orthodontic activity specified in Part 2 of Schedule 2 to the GDS Contracts Regulations,
calculate how many units of orthodontic activity is the equivalent to the orthodontic care and treatment provided by that person or persons during the year 1 October 2004 to 30 September 2005.
(3) Where—
(a)data does not exist for the period specified in paragraph (2)(a); or
(b)data does exist, but it is appropriate to adjust the data,
the contractor and the Local Health Board will agree the number of units of orthodontic activity to be provided.
(4) Where the contractor and Local Health Board cannot agree the number of units of orthodontic activity as provided for in paragraph (3), the personal dental services agreement will state this to be the case, and will specify a number of units of orthodontic activity which is determined by the Local Health Board.
(5) In determining the number of units of orthodontic activity to be specified under paragraph (4), the Local Health Board will have regard to any data it holds regarding the amount of orthodontic care and treatment provided under section 35 arrangements or, as the case may be, the pilot scheme agreement, by the person or persons with whom the personal dental services agreement is to be entered into in the period since 1 October 2004.
(6) In the case to which paragraph (1)(c) applies, the number of units of orthodontic activity to be provided under the personal dental services agreement will be one fifty-fifth of the negotiated annual agreement value of that agreement, as determined in accordance with directions under section 28E(3A) of the 1977 Act (personal dental services: regulations)() (so the contractor and the Local Health Board must agree the number of units of orthodontic activity to be provided and the negotiated annual agreement value simultaneously).
(7) Nothing in paragraph (2) will prevent the contracting parties from agreeing that the contractor will provide a number of units of orthodontic activity that is higher or lower than the number calculated in accordance with that paragraph.