The Health Services (Primary Care) (1997 Order) (Commencement No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 1998

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order.)

This Order brings into operation certain provisions of the Health Services (Primary Care) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 (“the 1997 Order”).

Provisions which are brought into operation on 1st April 1999 relate to personal medical services or personal dental services pilot schemes, which are due to start on that date. Those provisions relate to—

(a) reviews of pilot schemes;

(b) variation and termination of pilot schemes;

(c) medical practitioners to be suitably experienced;

(d) leaving medical lists;

(e) preferential treatment on transferring to medical lists;

(f) liabilities and obligations in relation to deputies;

(g) fund-holding practices;

(h) charges for dental treatment; and

(i) right to choose medical or dental practitioner.

Provisions brought into operation on 1st November 1998 relate to those persons or bodies who have entered into a pilot scheme agreement and who apply to become a “health services body” within the meaning of Article 8 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1991. Provisions brought into operation on 1st September 1998 relate to the provision of additional pharmaceutical services and the authorised provision of pharmaceutical services by medical practitioners.

The Order brings into operation certain minor and consequential amendments in Schedule 2, and repeals in Schedule 3, to the 1997 Order, and deletes the entry in columns (1) and (2) of the Schedule to the Health Services (Primary Care) (1997 Order) (Commencement No. 1) Order (Northern Ireland) 1997 (S.R. 1997 No. 524 (C. 31)) relating to Schedule 2 to the 1997 Order.