The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2003

Made18th March 2003

Coming into force1st April 2003

The National Assembly for Wales, in exercise of the powers conferred upon it by sections 41, 42 and 126(4) of the National Health Service Act 19771 hereby makes the following Regulations:

Citation, commencement, application and effect1

1

These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2003 and shall come into force on 1st April 2003.

2

These Regulations apply to Wales only.

3

The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 19922 shall be amended in accordance with the following provisions of these Regulations.

Amendment of paragraph 10A of Schedule 22

Paragraph 10A of Schedule 2 (Complaints) shall be amended in accordance with the following paragraphs—

a

in paragraph (7)(b)(ii) for the word “three”, substitute the word “two”; and

b

in paragraph (7)(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 19983.

D.Elis-ThomasThe 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 (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 1992 which regulate the terms on which pharmaceutical services are provided under the National Health Service Act 1977.

Regulation 2 contains provisions amending the length of time chemists have to respond to complaints made by or on behalf of any person to whom they have provided pharmaceutical services. The time permitted to chemists 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 days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, Christmas Day, Good Friday and bank holidays).