The National Health Service (General Dental Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2010

Referral for occasional treatment

This section has no associated Executive Note

19.—(1) Where a patient requires any occasional treatment and the contractor from whom the patient requests such treatment does not have the necessary facilities, experience or expertise to provide that occasional treatment, the contractor shall, if the patient agrees, refer the patient in accordance with sub-paragraph (2) for the provision of that occasional treatment by another contractor under general dental services or personal dental services or by a hospital or other service provided under Part III of the Act.

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

(a)give details of the oral condition of the patient and the reason for the referral to that other contractor 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 the contractor by the patient under the National Health Service (Dental Charges) (Scotland) Regulations 2003(1) 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 the contractor’s claim for remuneration in respect of that course of occasional treatment that the patient has been referred for the required occasional treatment.

(3) Subject to sub-paragraph (4) a contractor shall only accept a patient referred for occasional treatment where the patient has been referred to the contractor under sub-paragraph (1) and shall provide only the occasional treatment which, in the opinion of the dentist, it is necessary for the contractor to provide having regard to the reason for the referral.

(4) A contractor may accept a patient who presents for the occasional treatment listed in paragraph 18(2)(m) only, providing the prior approval in writing of the SDPB has been obtained to the effect that the SDPB is satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances which allow the patient to present for that treatment.