1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Health Services (Choice of Dental Practitioner) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998 and shall come into operation on 1st April 1999.
(2) In these Regulations–
“the 1997 Order” means the Health Services (Primary Care) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997(1);
“capitation arrangement” has the meaning assigned to it in regulation 2 of the GDS Regulations;
“care and treatment” has the meaning assigned to it in regulation 2 of the GDS Regulations;
“continuing care arrangement” has the meaning assigned to it in regulation 2 of the GDS Regulations;
“dentist” means a dental practitioner;
“general dental services” has the meaning given in Article 61(1) of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972;
“the GDS Regulations” means the Health and Personal Social Services General Dental Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993(2);
“personal dental services” has the meaning assigned to it in Article 3(7) of the 1997 Order;
“pilot scheme” has the meaning assigned to it in Article 3(1) of the 1997 Order;
“practice premises” means any premises, including any mobile surgery, at which primary dental services are provided; and
“primary dental services” has the meaning assigned to it in Article 15F(3) of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972.
S.R. 1993 No. 326; as amended by S.R. 1993 No. 401, S.R. 1995 No. 488, S.Rs. 1996 Nos. 114 and 382 and S.R. 1998 No. 245