The National Health Service (Functions of Health Authorities in England) (General Dental Services Incentive Schemes) Regulations 1996
Citation and commencement1.
These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (Functions of Health Authorities in England) (General Dental Services Incentive Schemes) Regulations 1996 and shall come into force on 1st September 1996.
Prescribed functions of Health Authorities in England2.
(1)
For the purposes of section 15(1)(b) of the National Health Service Act 1977, the two functions set out in paragraphs (2) and (3) are prescribed functions of each Health Authority in England.
(2)
The first function referred to in paragraph (1) is, where the Health Authority considers it appropriate to do so, to propose to the Secretary of State for his approval one or more schemes for making payments to general dental practitioners whose names are included in the Authority’s dental list, being schemes designed to increase the availability of general dental services in the Authority’s area.
(3)
The second function referred to in paragraph (1) is to establish, operate, make payments under, and monitor each such scheme as relates to the Authority’s area and has received the approval of the Secretary of State.
(4)
Each Authority in whose area such a scheme has been approved by the Secretary of State shall provide him with information relating to the functioning of each such scheme and to the use of sums paid under it.
(5)
These Regulations give Health Authorities two additional functions. First they are given the function of proposing to the Secretary of State (where they consider it appropriate to do so) schemes for making payments to general dental practitioners in the Authority’s area to increase the provision of general dental services there. Secondly, where the Secretary of State has approved such a scheme the Health Authority is given the function of implementing it.
The functions conferred by these Regulations are to be carried out in accordance with Directions given by the Secretary of State under section 17 of the National Health Service Act 1977.