The National Health Service (Functions of Health Authorities) (England) (Support of Provision of Services and Appraisal) Regulations 2002

Prescribed functions of Health Authorities

2.—(1) For the purposes of section 15(1)(b) and (1ZA) of the Act each Health Authority shall have the functions set out in the following paragraphs.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), each Health Authority may provide support to a practice or a provider of personal medical services by—

(a) employing medical practitioners to act as deputies for medical practitioners providing general medical services or performing personal medical services in their area; and

(b) employing other persons to assist in the provision of general medical services or personal medical services.

(3) A Health Authority shall only employ a medical practitioner to provide support under paragraph (2) if he is included in a medical list, a supplementary list or is named as a performer of personal medical services in a pilot scheme agreement.

(4) Before a Health Authority provides support under paragraph (2), it must reach agreement with the practice or provider to whom the support is to be given on the arrangements for providing the support.

(5) Each Health Authority shall, after consultation with the Local Medical Committee and other persons appearing to it to be appropriate, provide an appraisal scheme for—

(i) medical practitioners providing general medical services under Part II of the Act;

(ii) medical practitioners primarily responsible for the performance of personal medical services who are required to be named in the pilot scheme agreement and hold a list of patients in accordance with paragraph 6(1) of the Implementation Directions.