Insertion of a new paragraph 15A into Schedule 6 to the GMS Contracts Regulations
5. In Schedule 6 to the GMS Contracts Regulations (other contractual terms), after paragraph 15 (application for inclusion in a list of patients), insert—
“Inclusion in list of patients: armed forces personnel
15A.—(1) The contractor may, if its list of patients is open, include a person to whom sub-paragraph (2) applies in that list for a period of up to two years and paragraph 25(1)(b) does not apply in respect of any person who is included in the contractor’s list of patients by virtue of this paragraph.
(2) This sub-paragraph applies to a person who is—
(a)a serving member of the armed forces of the Crown who has received written authorisation from Defence Medical Services(1) to receive primary medical services from the contractor’s practice; and
(b)living or working within the contractor’s practice area during the period in respect of which that written authorisation is given.
(3) Where the contractor has accepted a person to whom sub-paragraph (2) applies onto its lists of patients, the contractor must—
(a)obtain a copy of the patient’s medical record, or a summary of that record, from Defence Medical Services; and
(b)provide regular updates to Defence Medical Services, at such intervals as are agreed with Defence Medical Services, about any care and treatment which the contractor has provided to the patient.
(4) At the end of the period of two years, or on such earlier date as the contractor’s responsibility for the patient has come to an end, the contractor must—
(a)notify Defence Medical Services of the fact that the contractor’s responsibility for the patient has come to an end; and
(b)update the patient’s medical record, or summary of that record, and return it to Defence Medical Services.
(5) In this paragraph, “primary medical services” means the medical services which are provided by the contractor’s practice under the contract to which Part 4 of the Act applies.”.
Defence Medical Services is an umbrella organisation within the Ministry of Defence responsible for the provision of medical, dental and nursing services in the United Kingdom to members of the armed forces of the Crown.