(This note does not form part of the Regulations)
These Regulations have effect to amend the National Health Service (Choice of Medical Practitioner) Regulations 1998 (“the principal Regulations”) which relate to the right of persons to choose the doctor from whom they wish to receive primary medical services.
The textual amendments of the principal Regulations which are made by the National Health Service (Choice of Medical Practitioner) Amendment Regulations 1999 (“the 1999 Regulations”) and which extend to England are made to have effect in Wales.
The 1999 Regulations amend regulation 4 of the principal Regulations (assignment of persons to doctors) by amending the provisions for a Health Authority assigning a patient to a doctor so that account may be taken by a Health Authority of patients who have acted violently to their doctor in the past, so that a doctor with the most appropriate facilities may be chosen.
The 1999 Regulations also make similar amendments to Regulation 5 of the principal Regulations, which deal with the assignment of a patient to a doctor by a “pilot scheme provider”.