1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the General Dental Services (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 and shall come into operation on 18th July 2005.
(2) In these Regulations “the principal Regulations” means the Health and Personal Social Services General Dental Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993(1).
2. In regulation 19(1) of the principal Regulations (Statement of Dental Remuneration), at the end of the Table insert in column (1) the Roman numeral “XI” and insert in column (2) “Practice allowance”.
3. In regulation 20 of the principal Regulations (Approval of payments), in paragraph (5), for “IX and X” substitute “IX, X and XI”.
4. In Schedule 2 to the principal Regulations (terms of service for dentists) after paragraph 33 (Premises etc) insert—
33A.—(1) A dentist shall not be a party to any contract or other arrangement under which the number for telephone services to be used by—
(a)patients to contact the dentist for any purpose related to the provision of general dental services; or
(b)any other person to contact the dentist in relation to services provided as part of the health service,
starts with the digits 087, 090 or 091 or consists of a personal number, unless the service is provided free to the caller.
(2) In this paragraph, “personal number” means a telephone number which starts with the number 070 followed by a further 8 digits.”.
5.—(1) Where as a result of the amendment of Schedule 2 of the Principal Regulations by virtue of regulation 4 of these Regulations, a dentist is, by virtue of a contract or other arrangement for the provision of telephone services entered into before the date these Regulations come into operation, in breach of his terms of service, no action shall be taken against the dentist in respect of that breach, provided that the dentist complies with the conditions specified in paragraph (2).
(2) The conditions referred to in paragraph (1) are that the dentist—
(a)provides, within the time specified in the request, such details of the contract or other arrangement for telephone services as the Board may request; and
(b)varies or terminates that contract or other arrangement when required to do so by the Board in accordance with directions from the Department under Article 17 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety on 24th June 2005.
L.S.
Deirdre Kenny
Senior Officer of the
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance and Personnel on 24th June 2005.
L.S.
Dr. Mary McIvor
Senior Officer of the
Department of Finance and Personnel