EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/1862) (“the GMS Contracts Regulations”) and the National Health Service (Personal Medical Services Agreements) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/1879) (“the PMS Agreements Regulations”), which make provision in respect of services provided under a general medical services contract and a personal medical services agreement made pursuant to Part 4 of the National Health Service Act 2006 (c. 41). They apply to England only.
The GMS Contracts Regulations are amended so as to make the following services “essential services”:
(a)cervical screening services;
(b)child health surveillance services;
(c)maternity medical services (including the offer and provision of a maternal postal natal consultation);
(d)vaccine and immunisations services (including childhood vaccines and immunisations)
(see paragraph 2 of Schedule 1).
The maternity medical services are also amended so that the postnatal period, during which relevant services are to be provided to mothers or their babies (where relevant), is extended from two to eight weeks.
These Regulations also amend the GMS Contracts Regulations and the PMS Agreements Regulations to impose additional duties on contractors in connection with the provision of vaccine and immunisations services under a general medical services contract or personal medical services agreement (see paragraph 6 of Schedule 1 and paragraph 1 of Schedule 2).
These are:
(a)a duty of cooperation with other persons who administer vaccines and immunisations, the Board, Secretary of State, local authorities,
(b)a requirement to comply with certain standards when offering appointments for recommended vaccines and immunisations,
(c)a requirement to take part in catch-up campaigns, and
(d)a requirement to appoint a vaccines and immunisations coordinator to oversee the provision of these services by the contractor.
These Regulations also make various consequential amendments to the GMS Contracts Regulations.
A full Impact Assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.