Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Health and Personal Social Services (General Medical Services Contracts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 and shall come into operation on 23rd February 2015.

(2) In these Regulations "the principal Regulations" means the Health and Personal Social Services (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004(3).

Amendment of regulation 2 to the principal Regulations

2.  In regulation 2 (interpretation), insert the following definition in the appropriate place-

"regulation 24 category of visitor" means any person to whom regulation 24 of the Provision of Health Services to Persons not Ordinarily Resident Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015(4) applies;"

Amendment of Schedule 5 to the principal Regulations

3.-(1) Schedule 5 (other contractual terms) to the principal Regulations shall be amended as provided in paragraphs (2) to (6).

(2) In paragraph 15A (application to the contractor for regulation 15 (3) and (5) services), for sub-paragraph (4) substitute-

"(4) A contractor who accepts an application under sub-paragraph (1) shall notify-

(a)the applicant (or, in the case of a child or incapable adult, the person making the application on their behalf) of the acceptance; and

(b)the Board, in writing, of the acceptance

as soon as is practicable."

(3) After paragraph 15A (application to the contractor for regulation 15 (3) and (5) services) insert-

"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.".

(4) In paragraph 16(1) (temporary residents) after the words "a person", insert "who is ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland".

(5) Paragraph 17 (refusal of applications for inclusion in the list of patients or for acceptance as a temporary resident) shall be amended as provided in the following paragraphs-

(a)substitute the heading with "Refusal of applications under paragraph 15, 15A, 15B or 16";

(b)In sub-paragraph (1), after the words "paragraph 15" insert ", 15A, 15B";

(c)In sub-paragraph (2), after the words "paragraph 15" insert "or 15B";

(d)In sub-paragraph (3), after the words "paragraph 15" insert ", 15A, 15B";

(e)In sub- paragraph(4), after the words "paragraph 15" insert ", 15A and 15B".

(6) After paragraph 32A (assignment of a person to a contractor for regulation 15(3) and (5) services), insert-

"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.".

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Health and Personal Social Services (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004, "the GMS Contract Regulations", to reflect the right of persons to whom regulation 24 of the Provision of Health Services to Persons Not Ordinarily Resident Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 applies to register with a contractor to obtain general medical services. The policy intention is to ensure that a person not ordinarily resident accesses health care at the most appropriate setting.

The Regulations also clarify that the provision in relation to a "temporary resident" only applies to a person who is ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland and who moves around the region.