The National Health Service (General Dental Services Contracts) (Wales) Regulations 2006

Course of treatment

6.—(1) Except in the case of orthodontic services and dental public health services, the contractor will provide mandatory and additional services to a patient by providing to that patient a course of treatment.

(2) The contractor will use its best endeavours to ensure that a course of treatment is completed within a reasonable time from the date on which—

(a) the treatment plan was written in accordance with paragraph 7(1); or

(b) where a treatment plan is not required pursuant to that paragraph, the initial examination and assessment of the patient took place.

(3) Where a contractor provides urgent treatment to a patient, the urgent treatment provided will constitute a course of treatment and no other services will be provided during that course of treatment.

(4) If a course of treatment is—

(a) terminated before it has been completed; or

(b) otherwise not completed within a reasonable time,

any further services to be provided to that patient under the contract must be provided as a new course of treatment.

(5) A course of treatment may only be terminated by—

(a) the contractor—

(i) when the circumstances referred to in paragraph 3(1) of this Schedule (violent patients) occur and notice that it will no longer provide services has been given to the Local Health Board;

(ii) where the patient has refused to pay a charge in the circumstances referred to in paragraph 4 of this Schedule (refusal to pay NHS Charges during treatment); or

(iii) where, in the reasonable opinion of the contractor, there has been an irrevocable breakdown in the relationship between the patient and the contractor and notice of such a breakdown has been given to the patient and the Local Health Board;

(b) the patient; or

(c) a person specified in paragraph 1(2) of this Schedule acting on the patient’s behalf.

(6) If the contractor is unable to complete the course of the treatment which has been commenced for reasons beyond its control, it will give notice to the Local Health Board of the extent of the treatment so provided and the reason for its inability to complete the remainder.