(1)The Secretary of State shall in regulations make transitional provision in respect of persons who, immediately before the coming into force of section 38 of this Act, are providing services in England under section 38 of the 1977 Act (general ophthalmic services).
(2)Regulations under this section may provide that, in such circumstances as the regulations may specify, a Primary Care Trust must, if any such person so wishes, enter into a general ophthalmic services contract with him; and the regulations may make provision as to the terms of any such contract.
(3)Regulations under this section may provide that, in such circumstances as the regulations may specify, a Primary Care Trust must, if any such person so wishes, enter into a contract with him, containing such terms as the regulations may specify, for the provision of ophthalmic services.
(4)Regulations under this section may make provision for the resolution of disputes in relation to any contract entered into, or proposed to be entered into, under subsection (2) or (3), including provision for the determination of disputes by the Secretary of State or a person appointed by him.
(5)Regulations under this section may make provision in respect of a period beginning before the coming into force of the provision (or of section 38 of this Act), but such provision must not as a whole be detrimental to the remuneration of the persons to whom it relates.
(6)In this section, “general ophthalmic services contract” means a contract under section 28WA of the 1977 Act (as inserted by section 38(1)).