The National Health Service (Dental Services) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 1991

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend—

(a) the National Health Service (General Dental Services) (Scotland) Regulations 1974 (“the 1974 Regulations”), which provide for the arrangements under which dentists provide general dental services as part of the National Health Service in Scotland; and

(b) the National Health Service (Dental Charges) (Scotland) Regulations 1989 (“the 1989 Regulations”), which provide for the making and recovery of charges for dental appliances, supplied or repaired under the National Health Service in Scotland, and for other dental treatment provided as part of NHS general dental services.

A new regulation 4A is inserted into the 1974 Regulations to remove the right of a dentist to be included in a dental list where the Secretary of State has certified for the purpose of NHS Superannuation Regulations that in the interests of the efficiency of general dental services the dentist should cease to provide such services (regulation 3). Regulation 4 adds a reference in regulation 26 of the 1974 Regulations to a new Determination VIII (governing the reimbursement of dentists' non-domestic rates) in the Statement of Dental Remuneration published under that regulation.

The 1989 Regulations are amended by these Regulations, principally in consequence of the coming into force of powers enabling provision of NHS services from 1st April 1991 by NHS trusts under the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 (as amended by the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990) (regulation 7(2)(a), (3), (4) and (5)). Regulation 7(2)(b) amends regulation 4(5) of the 1989 regulations to increase from £150 to £200 the maximum contribution which a patient may be required to make towards the cost of his treatment under general dental services.