Welsh Statutory Instruments
2003 No. 782 (W.93)
NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE, WALES
The National Health Service (General Dental Services) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2003
Made 18th March 2003
Coming into force 1st April 2003

The National Assembly for Wales, in exercise of the powers conferred upon it by sections 35(1), 36(1) and 126(4) of the National Health Service Act 1977 hereby makes the following Regulations:
1977 c. 49; see section 128(1) as amended by the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19) (“the 1990 Act”), section 26(2)(g) and (i), for the definitions of “prescribed” and “regulations”.
Section 35(1) was amended by S.I. 1985/39, article 7; the Health Authorities Act 1995 (c. 17), section 2(1), Schedule 1, paragraph 24, and the Health and Social Care Act 2001 (c. 15) (“the 2001 Act”), section 22(1), (2)(a)(i) and (ii).
Section 36(1) was amended by the Health and Social Security Act 1984 (c. 48), section 5(4), Schedule 3, paragraph 5; the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 (c. 17) (“the 2002 Act”), section 2(5), Schedule 2, Part 1, paragraphs 1, 10(1) and (2); S.I.1981/432, article 3(3)(a); the 1990 Act, section 24(2); the 2001 Act, section 20(1),(4)(a) and section 22(1), (3)(b)(c); the Health Act 1999 (c. 8) (“the 1999 Act”), section 9(3); the Health and Medicines Act 1988 (c. 49), section 25, Schedule 2, paragraph 4; the National Health Service (Primary Care) Act 1997 (c. 46), section 41(10), (12), Schedule 2, paragraph 12, Schedule 3, Part 1.
Section 126(4) was amended by the 1990 Act, section 65(2); by the 1999 Act, section 65(1), Schedule 4, paragraphs 4, 37(1) and (6); the 2001 Act, section 67(1), Schedule 5, Part 1, paragraphs 5(1) and 13(b) and by the 2002 Act, section 6(3)(c).
As regards Wales, the functions of the Secretary of State under sections 35(1), 36(1) and 126(4) of the National Health Service Act 1977 are transferred to the National Assembly for Wales under article 2 of, and Schedule 1 to, the National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999, S.I. 1999/672.

Citation, commencement, application and effect
1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (General Dental Services) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2003 and shall come into force on 1st April 2003.
(2) These Regulations shall apply to Wales only.
(3) The National Health Service (General Dental Services) Regulations 1992 shall be amended in accordance with the following provisions of these Regulations.
S.I. 1992/661, the relevant amending instrument is S.I.1996/704 which inserts paragraphs 31A, B and C into Schedule 1.

Amendment of paragraph 31A of Schedule 1
2. Paragraph 31A of Schedule 1 (Complaints) shall be amended in accordance with the following paragraphs —
(a) in paragraph 6(b)(ii) for the word “three”, substitute the word “two”; and
(b) in paragraph (6)(c) for the figure “10”, substitute the figure “20”.
Signed on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales under section 66(1) of the Government of Wales Act 1998.
1998 c. 38.
D.Elis-Thomas
The Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales.
18th March 2003

(This note is not part of the Order)
These Regulations further amend the National Health Service (General Dental Services) Regulations 1992 which regulate the terms on which general dental services are provided under the National Health Service Act 1977.
Regulation 2 contains provisions amending the length of time dentists have to respond to complaints made by or on behalf of patients or former patients under their practice based complaints procedure. The time permitted to dentists to formally acknowledge complaints is reduced from three to two days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, Christmas Day, Good Friday and bank holidays), whereas the time permitted to provide a complainant with a written summary of investigations and conclusions is increased from 10 to 20 working days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, Christmas Day, Good Friday and bank holidays) .