Application for inclusion in the dental list and notification of changes
5.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (4), an application by a person for inclusion in a dental list shall be made in writing to the Health Board and shall include the information, declarations, certificate or application, undertakings and consents specified in Schedule 2 and—
(a)shall state whether the applicant is a person registered in the register of dentists or a body corporate;
(b)shall, if the application relates to sub-part A of the first part of the dental list, include the information, declarations, certificate or application, undertakings, and consents specified in Part IA of Schedule 2;
(c)shall, if the application only relates to sub-part B of the first part of the dental list, include the information, declarations, certificate or application, undertakings and consents specified in Part IB of Schedule 2;
(d)shall, if the application relates to the second part of the dental list, include the information, declarations, certificate or application, undertakings and consents specified in Part II of Schedule 2;
(e)may include the information specified in Part III of Schedule 2; and
(f)shall, in the case of an application by a body corporate, be signed by all the directors of that body corporate.
(2) An application may specify other Health Boards on whose dental lists the applicant wishes to be included, and such an application shall include an undertaking to provide or assist in providing general dental services, or emergency dental services (as the case may be), and comply with the relevant paragraphs of the terms of service, in the areas of the Health Boards so specified.
(3) Before determining an application a Health Board shall—
(a)check the information provided by the applicant and any documents which the applicant is required to produce in terms of these Regulations;
(b)examine references obtained from the referees nominated by the applicant;
(c)obtain any enhanced criminal record certificate required in respect of the application if such certificate was not included with the application;
(d)check with the Agency whether the applicant has any record of fraud, or is currently, or at any time has been, the subject of any investigation by the Agency, which information the Agency shall supply unless it would prejudice any criminal proceedings or the prevention, detection or investigation of fraud; and
(e)notify any other Health Boards on whose dental list the applicant has specified in the application the applicant seeks to be included.
(4) If a Health Board considers that further information or documents, in addition to the documents, information and undertakings provided by the applicant in accordance with Schedule 2, are necessary to determine the application, the Health Board shall require the applicant to provide such further information or documents before it determines the application.
(5) If the Health Board considers that it requires to meet with the applicant, or where the applicant is a body corporate, any of its directors, in order to properly determine the application it shall require the applicant, member or director (as the case may be), to attend a meeting at a reasonable time and place to discuss the application and the applicant or director (as the case may be) shall comply with such a reasonable request.
(6) A Health Board may, if it considers that the proposed practice premises of an applicant should be inspected, inspect such premises.
(7) Where a Health Board has not inspected the proposed practice premises of an applicant, either in response to the application from the applicant, or in response to the inclusion of any other applicant, the Health Board shall inspect the proposed practice premises before determining the application.
(8) Any inspection made pursuant to paragraphs (6) or (7) shall be made not later than 14 days after the date of receipt of the application.
(9) Where information about an applicant’s previous convictions, including information disclosed by means of an enhanced criminal record certificate, or any other information or documents disclosed or provided to, or investigations carried out by, the Health Board in terms of this regulation, leads the Health Board to consider that there may be grounds for referral to the Tribunal, then the Health Board may refer the matter to the Tribunal.
(10) Where an applicant for inclusion in a Health Board’s dental list is already included on another Health Board’s dental list, and has specified such inclusion in the application, notwithstanding paragraphs (3) and (4), the Health Board to whom the application has been made may add the name of the applicant to its dental list without further inquiry.
(11) In the case of an application to a Health Board by a dentist or body corporate already included in either part of that Health Board’s dental list, that dentist or body corporate shall only be required to provide the information required by paragraphs (1), (2), (3) and (4) insofar as—
(a)such information has not already been supplied to the Health Board; or
(b)the information has changed since it was provided.
(12) Any dentist who is undertaking vocational training may make an application to a Health Board to be included in the first part of its dental list not more than 4 months before that dentist is due to complete the training.
(13) An application under paragraph (12) shall contain the information, declarations, certificate or application, undertakings and consents mentioned in paragraph (1), except that required by sub-paragraphs 1(d) and 3 of Part 1A of Schedule 2.
(14) An applicant under paragraph (12) shall provide the information required by paragraphs 1(d) and 3 of Part 1A of Schedule 2 as soon as the applicant has been notified by NHS Education for Scotland of his or her vocational training number, and the Health Board shall then, provided—
(a)the requirements of paragraphs (12) and (13) have been complied with;
(b)the Health Board has not sought further information, references or documentation under paragraph (4); and
(c)the Health Board has not deferred the application under regulation 8,
decide the application within 7 days of receiving the information required under paragraphs 1(d) and 3 of Part 1A of Schedule 2.
(15) Subject to paragraph (16), a dentist who wishes to have his or her name included in sub-part A of the first part of the dental list but who does not have a vocational training number shall apply to NHS Education for Scotland for a vocational training number, and the application for a vocational training number shall be dealt with in accordance with regulation 2 of the National Health Service (Vocational Training for General Dental Practice) (Scotland) Regulations 2004(1) before the Health Board determines the application under regulation 7(3).
(16) Paragraph (15) shall not apply to a dentist who will only provide orthodontic treatment.
(17) A dentist or body corporate which has made an application for inclusion in a Health Board’s dental list shall notify the Health Board which is considering the application in writing if there is a change to any of the information which that dentist or body corporate has provided in terms of this regulation as soon as such change occurs.
S.S.I. 2004/292 amended by S.I. 2009/2054.