The Health and Personal Social Services (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004

• (a) the period of time for which the contractor’s list of patients will remain closed which must be—

• (i) the period specified in the application to extend the closure period; or

• (ii) in the case where the Board and contractor have agreed in writing a different period to the period specified in application to extend the closure period, the period which is agreed,

and in either case, the period (“the extended closure period”), must be not less than 3 months and not more than 12 months;

• (b) the date from which the extended closure period is to take effect; and

• (c) the date on which the list of patients is to re-open.

• (10) Where the Board rejects an application to extend the closure period it must—

• (a) notify the contractor of its decision in writing and the notification must include the reasons for the rejection of the application; and

• (b) at the same time as it notifies the contractor, send a copy of the notification to the Local Medical Committee.

• (11) Where an application for an extension of the closure period is made in accordance with sub-paragraphs (1) and (2), the list of patients will remain closed pending—

• (a) the determination by the Board of the application for an extension of the closure period; or

• (b) the contractor ceasing to pursue any dispute arising from the application for an extension of the closure period pursuant to the dispute resolution procedure (or any court proceedings),

whichever is the later.

Re-opening of list of patients

29E

The contractor may re-open its list of patients before the expiry of the closure period if the Board and contractor agree that the contractor should re-open its list of patients”.

Approval of closure notice by the Board

Rejection of closure notice by the Board

Assignment of patients to lists: open lists

Assignment of patients to lists: closed lists

Factors relevant to assignments

Assignments to closed lists: determinations of the assessment panel

Assignments to closed lists: dispute resolution procedure relating to determinations of the assessment panel

Assignments to closed lists: assignments of patients by a Board

Provision of information on website

71A

In the case where a contractor has a website, the contractor must publish on that website details of the practice area, including the area known as the outer boundary area (within the meaning given in regulation 18(1A)), by reference to a sketch diagram, plan or postcode.

Provision of information

Inquiries about prescriptions and referrals

Provision of information to a medical officer etc.

Annual return and review

Notifications to the Board

Notice provisions specific to a contract with two or more individuals practising in partnership

Notification of deaths

Notifications to patients following variation of the contract

Entry and inspection by the Board

113A

The contractor shall co-operate with the Board in the discharge of any obligations of the Board or its accountable officer under the Controlled Drugs (Supervision of Management and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009.

Application to the contractor for regulation 15(3) and (5) services

15A

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Temporary residents

Refusal of applications for inclusion in the list of patients or for acceptance as a temporary resident

Patient preference of practitioner

Removal from the list at the request of the patient

Removals from the list of patients who are violent

Removals from the list of patients registered elsewhere

Removals from the list of patients who have moved

Removals from the list of patients absent from the United Kingdom etc.

Removals from the list of patients accepted elsewhere as temporary residents

Removals from the list of pupils etc. of a school

Termination of responsibility for patients not registered with the contractor

Closure of lists of patients

Application for closure of lists of patients

Approval of an application to close a list of patients

Rejection of an application to close a list of patients

Application for an extension to a closure period

Re-opening of list of patients

Approval of closure notice by the Board

Rejection of closure notice by the Board

Assignment of patients to lists: open lists

Assignment of a person to a contractor for regulation 15(3) and (5) services

32A

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Assignment of patients to lists: closed lists

Factors relevant to assignments

Assignments to closed lists: determinations of the assessment panel

Assignments to closed lists: dispute resolution procedure relating to determinations of the assessment panel

Assignments to closed lists: assignments of patients by a Board

Application for inclusion in a list of patients by a regulation 24 category of visitor

15B

• (1) The contractor may, if his list of patients is open, accept an application for inclusion in his list of patients made by or on behalf of a regulation 24 category of visitor.

• (2) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), an application under sub-paragraph (1) shall be made by delivering to the practice premises a medical card or an application made in writing, signed by the applicant or a person authorised by the applicant to sign on their behalf.

• (3) An application under sub-paragraph (1) may be made—

• (a) on behalf of any child by either parent, or in the absence of both parents, the guardian or other adult who has care of the child; or

• (b) on behalf of any adult who is incapable of making such an application, or authorising such an application to be made on their behalf, by a relative or the primary carer of that person.

• (4) Nothing in this paragraph obliges a contractor to accept an application under sub-paragraph (1) during a period of 14 days beginning with the date on which the contractor receives that application.

• (5) A contractor who accepts an application under sub-paragraph (1) for inclusion in the contractor’s list of patients shall notify the Board in writing as soon as is practicable.

• (6) On receipt of a notice under sub-paragraph (5), the Board shall—

• (a) include that person in the contractor’s list of patients from the date on which the notice is received; and

• (b) notify the applicant (or, in the case of a child or incapable adult, the person making the application on their behalf) of the acceptance.

Temporary residents

Refusal of applications under paragraph 15, 15A, 15B or 16

Patient preference of practitioner

Removal from the list at the request of the contractor

Removals from the list of patients who are violent

Removals from the list of patients registered elsewhere

Removals from the list of patients who have moved

Removals from the list of patients absent from the United Kingdom etc.

Removals from the list of patients accepted elsewhere as temporary residents

Removals from the list of pupils etc. of a school

Termination of responsibility for patients not registered with the contractor

Closure of lists of patients

Application for closure of lists of patients

Approval of an application to close a list of patients

Rejection of an application to close a list of patients

Application for an extension to a closure period

Re-opening of list of patients

Approval of closure notice by the Board

Rejection of closure notice by the Board

Assignment of patients to lists: open lists

Assignment of a person to a contractor for regulation 15(3) and (5) services

Assignment of a person who has made an application under paragraph 15B

32B

• (1) On receipt of a request from a regulation 24 category of visitor the Board may, having regard to paragraph 34 (a),(b) and (e) assign that person to a contractor whose list of patients is open if that person has been refused inclusion in a contractor’s list of patients under paragraph 15B.

• (2) A request under sub-paragraph (1) shall be made to the Board in writing.

• (3) Nothing in this paragraph obliges the Board to assign a person who has made a request under sub-paragraph (1) during the period of 14 days beginning with the date on which the Board receives that request.

• (4) Where a regulation 24 category of visitor is assigned to a contractor under sub-paragraph (1) the Board shall notify the following in writing as soon as is practicable—

• (a) the contractor; and

• (b) that person.

• (5) The Board may not assign such a person to a contractor whose list of patients is closed.

Assignment of patients to lists: closed lists

Factors relevant to assignments

Assignments to closed lists: determinations of the assessment panel

Assignments to closed lists: dispute resolution procedure relating to determinations of the assessment panel

Assignments to closed lists: assignments of patients by a Board

Independent prescribers and supplementary prescribers