The Primary Medical Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2004

The Order of 1972

1.  The Order of 1972 shall have effect subject to the following amendments.

2.  In Article 2 (interpretation), in paragraph (2)—

(a) at the appropriate places in alphabetical order insert—

““general medical services contract” has the meaning given by Article 57;

“primary medical services” means services which are primary medical services for the purposes of Part VI (see Article 56);”; and

(b) omit the definition of “general medical services”.

3.—(1) Article 5 (provision of accommodation and medical services, etc.) shall be amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (3) for “general medical,” substitute “primary medical services, of general”.

(3) In paragraph (5), after sub-paragraph (a) insert—

“(aa) persons providing primary medical services under a general medical services contract or in accordance with Article 15B arrangements;”.

4.—(1) In Article 6 (provision of general health services), the existing provision shall be numbered as paragraph (1) of that Article.

(2) In that paragraph for “general medical,” substitute “primary medical services, of general”.

(3) After that paragraph insert—

“(2) Services provided under Article 56(2) or under a general medical services contract are to be regarded as provided by the Department in pursuance of its functions under paragraph (1).”.

5.  In Article 11 (vaccination and immunisation), in paragraph (2) for “general medical services” and “personal medical services” substitute “primary medical services”.

6.  In Article 51 (powers of Department where services are inadequate), in paragraph (a) for “general medical services” substitute “primary medical services”.

7.—(1) Article 55 (recognition of local representative committees) shall be amended as follows.

(2) In the heading, for “local representative committees” substitute “Local Dental Committees, Local Optical Committees and Local Pharmaceutical Committees”.

(3) Omit—

(a) paragraph (1),

(b) paragraph (5)(a) and (b), and

(c) in paragraph (7), “medical practitioner or”.

8.—(1) Article 55A (functions of local representative committees) shall be amended as follows.

(2) In the heading, for “local representative committees” substitute “Local Dental Committees, Local Optical Committees and Local Pharmaceutical Committees”.

(3) In paragraph (1), for “Article 55(1)(c) or (2)(c)” substitute “Article 55(2)(c)”.

(4) In paragraph (4)—

(a) for “paragraph (1)(b) or (c) or (2)(b) or (c)” substitute “paragraph (2)(b) or (c)”, and

(b) omit sub-paragraphs (a) and (b).

(5) In paragraph (6), omit “general medical services”.

(6) In paragraph (8), omit “deputy medical practitioners, Article 15B medical practitioners”.

9.  After Article 55A insert—

“Local Medical Committees

55B.— (1) A Health and Social Services Board may recognise a committee formed for its area, or for its area and that of one or more other Health and Social Services Boards, which it is satisfied is representative of—

(a) the persons to whom paragraph (2) applies; and

(b) the persons to whom paragraph (3) applies.

(2) This paragraph applies to—

(a) every medical practitioner who, under a general medical services contract entered into by him, is providing primary medical services in the area for which the committee is formed; and

(b) every medical practitioner who is providing general ophthalmic services in that area.

(3) This paragraph applies to every other medical practitioner—

(a) who is performing primary medical services in the area for which the committee is formed;

(i) pursuant to Article 56(2)(a);

(ii) in accordance with Article 15B arrangements; or

(iii) under a general medical services contract; and

(b) who has notified the Health and Social Services Board that he wishes to be represented by the committee (and has not notified it that he wishes to cease to be so represented).

(4) A committee recognised under this Article shall be called the Local Medical Committee for the area for which it is formed.

(5) Any such committee may delegate any of its functions, with or without restrictions or conditions, to sub-committees composed of members of that committee.

(6) Regulations may require a Health and Social Services Board, in the exercise of its functions relating to primary medical services, to consult any committee recognised by it under this Article on such occasions and to such extent as may be prescribed.

(7) A committee recognised under this Article shall have such other functions as may be prescribed.

(8) A committee recognised under this Article shall in respect of each year determine—

(a) the amount of its administrative expenses for that year attributable to persons of whom it is representative under paragraph (1)(a); and

(b) the amount of its administrative expenses for that year attributable to persons of whom it is representative under paragraph (1)(b).

(9) A Health and Social Services Board may—

(a) on the request of a committee recognised by it, allot to that committee such sums for defraying the expenses referred to in paragraph (8)(a) as it may determine; and

(b) deduct the amount of such sums from the remuneration of persons of whom it is representative under paragraph (1)(a) under the general medical services contracts, or arrangements under Article 62, entered into by them with the Board.

(10) A committee recognised under this Article shall apportion the amount determined by it under paragraph (8)(b) among the persons of whom it is representative under paragraph (1)(b); and each such person shall pay in accordance with the committee’s directions the amount so apportioned to him.

(11) References in this Article to the administrative expenses of a committee include the travelling and subsistence allowances payable to its members.”.

10.  In the following provisions—

(a) paragraph (a) of Article 59 (loans to general medical practitioners);

(b) paragraph (1)(a) of Article 64 (persons authorised to provide pharmaceutical services);

(c) paragraph 1(b)(i) of Schedule 6 (removal to suitable premises of persons in need of care and attention);

(d) paragraph 1 of Schedule 9 (provision for making loans to general medical practitioners);

for “general medical services” substitute “primary medical services”.

11.—(1) Schedule 10, as substituted by Schedule 3 to the Health and Personal Social Services Act (Northern Ireland) 2001 (c. 3), (prohibition of sale of medical practices) shall be amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 1—

(a) for “general medical services” substitute “primary medical services”;

(b) in sub-paragraph (b), at the end insert “(prior to the coming into operation of Article 3 of the Primary Medical Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2004)”;

(c) after that sub-paragraph insert

“or

(c) provided or performed primary medical services in accordance with Article 15B arrangements, arrangements under Article 56B(2)(b) or under a general medical services contract—

(i) in prescribed circumstances, or

(ii) if regulations so provide, in all circumstances;”.

(3) In paragraph 4, for “general medical services or personal medical services” substitute “or performed services as specified in paragraph 1(1)”.

12.  In Schedule 11, as substituted by Schedule 2 to the Health and Personal Social Services Act (Northern Ireland) 2001, (disqualification of persons providing Part VI services), in paragraph 1(8) for “general medical services” substitute “primary medical services”.