General Dental Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993

Referral for occasional treatment

18.—(1) Where a patient requires any occasional treatment and the dentist does not have the necessary facilities, experience or expertise to provide that occasional treatment, he shall, if the patient agrees, refer him in accordance with sub-paragraph (2) for the provision of that occasional treatment by another dentist under general dental services or by a hospital or other service provided under Part II of the Order.

(2) In referring a patient under sub-paragraph (1) to another dentist or to a hospital or other service for that occasional treatment, the dentist shall—

(a) give details of the oral condition of the patient and the reason for the referral to that other dentist or, as the case may be, that hospital or other service, either at the time of referral or as soon as practicable afterwards;

(b) include with those details a statement of the amount paid to him by the patient under the Dental Charges Regulations in respect of any occasional treatment already provided in the course of the occasional treatment during which the referral is made; and

(c) indicate in his claim for remuneration in respect of that course of occasional treatment that the patient has been referred for the required occasional treatment.

(3) A dentist who accepts a patient referred to him under sub-paragraph (1) shall provide only the occasional treatment which, in the opinion of the dentist, it is necessary for him to provide having regard to the reason for referral.