(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the National Health Service (General Dental Services) (Scotland) Regulations 1996 (“the Regulations”), which make provisions as to the arrangements under which dentists provide general dental services under the National Health Service in Scotland.
Regulation 2(2) amends regulation 2 of the Regulations by inserting definitions for “dental nurse” and “dental therapist”.
Regulation 2(3) omits regulation 12 and 13(3) of the Regulations so that dentists can no longer be removed from the dental list on grounds of age.
Regulation 2(4)(a) and (c) amends paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 to the Regulations (a capitation arrangement) so that dental nurses and dental therapists can on behalf of a dentist accept a patient under three years of age for care and treatment under a capitation arrangement and in so doing shall, at the time at which he or she so accepts the patient, provide to at least one of the patient’s parents or guardians the relevant information and forms and appropriate education, advice and care programme related to the oral health needs of the patient.
Regulation 2(4)(b) also amends paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 to the Regulations to provide that a dentist, except where a dental nurse or dental therapist accepts the patient, following his first examination of the patient, shall provide to at least one of the patient’s parents, guardians or other person with care or control of the patient, or the patient where in the opinion of the dentist the patient is capable of understanding, appropriate education, advice and a care programme relating to the oral health needs of the patient.