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

Standards for out of hours services

9.—(1) A contractor which provides out of hours services to registered patients of another contractor or provider of essential services (or their equivalent) and who does not fall within sub-paragraph (2), must, in the provision of out of hours services, meet the quality standards set out in the document entitled “Quality Standards in the Delivery of GP Out of Hours Services” published on 20th June 2002(1).

(2) A contractor which has contracted to provide out of hours services only to patients which it provides essential services to under the agreement, must from 1st January 2005, in the provision of such out of hours services, meet the quality standards set out in the document entitled “Quality Standards in the Delivery of GP Out of Hours Services” published on 20th June 2002.

(1)

The document “Quality Standards in the delivery of GP Out of Hours Services” published on 20th June 2002 is published by the Department of Health on its website at www.doh.gov.uk/pricare/qualitystandards.htm or a copy may be obtained by writing to Primary Care, Room 7E28, Department of Health, Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7UE or by e-mailing [e-mail].