17.—(1) Except in the circumstances specified in paragraph (2), a contract must provide for it to subsist until it is terminated in accordance with the terms of the contract or the general law.
(2) The circumstances referred to in paragraph (1) are that the Health Board wishes to enter into a temporary contract for a period not exceeding twelve months for the provision of services to the former patients of a contractor, following the termination of that contractor’s contract.
(3) Either party to a prospective contract to which paragraph (2) applies may, if they wish to do so, invite the area medical committee for the area of the Health Board to participate in the negotiations intended to lead to such a contract.