Assignment of patients to lists: closed lists
23.—(1) A Health Board may not assign a patient to a provider which has closed the provider’s list of patients except in the circumstances specified in sub-paragraph (2).
(2) A Health Board may, subject to paragraph 24 assign a new patient to a provider whose practice premises are within the Health Board’s area and which has closed the provider’s list of patients, if—
(a)most or all of the providers (by any arrangement) of essential services (or their equivalent) whose practice premises are within the Health Board’s area have closed their lists of patients;
(b)the assessment panel has determined under paragraph 25(7) that patients may be assigned to the provider in question, and that determination has not been overturned either by a determination of the Scottish Ministers or the adjudicator under the NHS dispute resolution procedure as modified by paragraph 26(3) or (where applicable) by a court; and
(c)the Health Board has entered into discussions with the provider in question regarding the assignment of a patient if such discussions are required under paragraph 30.