The National Health Service (Personal Medical Services Agreements) Regulations 2004

Termination and the NHS dispute resolution procedure

111.—(1) Where the relevant body is entitled to serve written notice on the contractor terminating the agreement pursuant to paragraph 104, 105, 106, 107(4) or (6) or 108, the relevant body shall, in the notice served on the contractor pursuant to those provisions, specify a date on which the agreement terminates that is not less than 28 days after the date on which the relevant body has served that notice on the contractor unless sub-paragraph (2) applies.

(2) This sub-paragraph applies if the relevant body is satisfied that a period less than 28 days is necessary in order to—

(a) protect the safety of the contractor’s patients; or

(b) protect itself from material financial loss.

(3) In a case falling with sub-paragraph (1) where the exception in sub-paragraph (2) does not apply, where the contractor invokes the NHS dispute resolution procedure before the end of the period of notice referred to in sub-paragraph (1), and it notifies the relevant body in writing that it has done so, the agreement shall not terminate at the end of the notice period but instead shall only terminate in the circumstances specified in sub-paragraph (4).

(4) The agreement shall only terminate if and when—

(a) there has been a determination of the dispute pursuant to paragraph 95 and that determination permits the relevant body to terminate the agreement; or

(b) the contractor ceases to pursue the NHS dispute resolution procedure,

whichever is the sooner.

(5) If the relevant body is satisfied that it is necessary to terminate the agreement before the NHS dispute resolution procedure is concluded in order to—

(a) protect the safety of the contractor’s patients; or

(b) protect itself from material financial loss,

sub-paragraphs (3) and (4) shall not apply and the relevant body shall be entitled to confirm by written notice to be served on the contractor, that the agreement will nevertheless terminate at the end of the period of the notice it served pursuant to paragraph 104, 105, 106, 107(4) or (6) or 108.