Patient online appointment services
72.—(1) A contractor must provide its registered patients with—
(a)an optional online appointment service;
(b)an optional online repeat prescription service; and
(c)an optional online repeat prescription information service,
in a manner which is capable of being electronically integrated with the computer systems of the contractor’s practice and using appropriate systems authorised by the Health Board.
(2) The requirements in sub-paragraph (1) do not apply where the contractor does not have access to computer systems and software which would enable it to provide the services listed in that sub-paragraph.
(3) If the contractor provides an optional online appointment service, the contractor must regularly consider whether it is desirable, in order to meet the reasonable needs of its registered patients, to increase the proportion of appointments which are made available to registered patients through that service and if it is so desirable, to increase the proportion of appointments accordingly.
(4) If a contractor provides any of the services referred to in sub-paragraph (1), the contractor must promote that service to its registered patients—
(a)in practice leaflets in accordance with paragraph 11 of schedule 8; and
(b)if the contactor has a website, on that website.
(5) In this paragraph—
(a)“online appointment service” means a facility which allows patients to book view, amend and cancel appointments online;
(b)“repeat prescription service” means a facility which allows patients to order repeat prescriptions for drugs, medicines or appliances online; and
(c)“online repeat prescription information service” means a facility which allows patients to view online, and print, a list of any drugs, medicines or appliances in respect of which the patient has a repeat prescription.