The National Health Service (General Dental Services Contracts) (Wales) Regulations 2006

Orthodontic course of treatmentE+W

5.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), the contractor will provide orthodontic services to a patient by providing to that patient an orthodontic course of treatment.

(2) The contractor may provide orthodontic services that are not provided by virtue of an orthodontic course of treatment where—

(a)it provides a repair to an orthodontic appliance of a person; and

(b)the orthodontic course of treatment in which that orthodontic appliance was provided is being provided by another contractor, hospital or relevant service provider under Part 1 of the Act.

(3) The contractor will use its best endeavours to ensure that an orthodontic course of treatment is completed within a reasonable time from the date on which the orthodontic treatment plan was written in accordance with paragraph 6(1).

(4) If an orthodontic course of treatment is—

(a)terminated before it has been completed; or

(b)otherwise not completed within a reasonable time,

any further orthodontic services to be provided to that patient under the contract must be provided as a new orthodontic course of treatment.

(5) An orthodontic course of treatment may only be terminated by—

(a)the contractor where—

(i)the circumstances referred to in paragraph 3(1) of Schedule 3 (violent patients) occur and notice that it will no longer provide services has been given to the Local Health Board;

(ii)the patient has refused to pay a charge in the circumstances referred to in paragraph 4 of Schedule 3 (refusal to pay NHS Charges during treatment); or

(iii)in the reasonable opinion of the contractor, there has been an irrevocable breakdown in the relationship between the patient and that contractor and, notice of such a breakdown has been given to the patient and the Local Health Board;

(b)the patient; or

(c)a person specified in paragraph 1(2) of Schedule 3 acting on the patient’s behalf.

Commencement Information

I1Sch. 1 para. 5 in force at 1.3.2006, see reg. 1(1)