Additional services generally
- Provide necessary facilities and equipment for each additional service Contractor
Northern Ireland Statutory Rule
2004
United Kingdom
The Health and Personal Social Services (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004
At a glance
What's here
100 compliance obligations
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Contractor 87
- Any Person 4
- Self-Employed Person 1
- Employer 1
Plus 7 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Other Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Contractors also bound by 178 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The National Health Service (Personal Medical Services Agreements) Regulations 2015 2015 137 duties
- The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations 2015 2015 134 duties
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 2015 114 duties
- The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Wales) Regulations 2023 2023 93 duties
- The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Scotland) Regulations 2018 2018 87 duties
Any Person also bound by 2337 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Self-Employed People also bound by 82 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- General Dental Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 1993 12 duties
- The National Health Service (General Dental Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2010 2010 7 duties
- The General Chiropractic Council (Indemnity Arrangements) Rules Order of Council 2015 2015 5 duties
- Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 1993 5 duties
- The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 1992 4 duties
Employers also bound by 694 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 2003 236 duties
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 1998 120 duties
- TULRCA 1992 1992 72 duties
- Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (current NI employment law) 1996 52 duties
- Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 2003 50 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Schedules
Cervical screening
- Provide cervical screening services and keep records Contractor
Contraceptive services
- Provide full contraceptive services to patients who request them Contractor
Vaccinations and immunisations
- Manage vaccination services and train staff on anaphylaxis Contractor
childhood vaccines and immunisations
- Offer childhood vaccines and immunisations as set out in the Statement of Financial Entitlements Contractor
Child health surveillance
- Provide child health surveillance services for children under 5 Contractor
Maternity medical services
- Provide maternity medical services to pregnant patients, new mothers and babies Contractor
Minor surgery
- Provide minor surgery procedures and record patient consent Contractor
Permanent opt outs
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Board must approve or reject permanent opt out within 28 days Local authority
Out of hours opt outs where the opt out notice is served after 30th September 2004
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Board must approve GP out-of-hours opt-out notices within 28 days Statutory regulator
Informing patients of opt outs
- Inform patients of opt out when requested by the Board Contractor
Premises
- Ensure your practice premises are suitable and large enough for patient needs Contractor
Criteria for out of hours services
- Assess patient urgency before providing out-of-hours services Contractor
Late payment notices
- You can terminate your contract if the Board fails to pay you Contractor
Termination by the Board for unlawful sub-contracting
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Health Board must act on unlawful sub-contracting by medical contractor Local authority
Termination by the Board: remedial notices and breach notices
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Board must give contractor remedial notice before terminating contract for remediable breach Statutory regulator
Standards for out of hours services
- Meet approved quality standards for out of hours services Contractor
Clinical governance
- Implement an effective clinical governance system and appoint a responsible person Contractor
The contractor shall co-operate with the Board in the discharge...
- Co-operate with the Health Board on controlled drugs obligations Contractor
Insurance
- Maintain appropriate indemnity insurance at all times Contractor
The contractor shall at all times hold adequate public liability...
- Hold adequate public liability insurance Contractor
Gifts
- Keep a register of gifts worth over £100 from patients or suppliers Contractor
Compliance with legislation and guidance
- Comply with all relevant legislation and consider official guidance Contractor
Supply of medicines, etc. by contractors providing out of hours services
- Ensure out-of-hours staff follow medicine supply rules Contractor
Duty of co-operation in relation to additional, enhanced and out of hours services
- Cooperate with service providers if you don't offer certain GP services Contractor
Where a contractor is to cease to be required to...
- Share patient service information if you stop providing it Contractor
Application for inclusion in a list of patients
- Manage patient list applications and notify the Board of acceptances Contractor
Temporary residents
- Accept and manage temporary residents if your list is open Contractor
Refusal of applications under paragraph 15, 15A, 15B or 16
- Only refuse patient applications on non-discriminatory grounds and notify in writing Contractor
Patient preference of practitioner
- Inform patients of their right to choose a GP and record their preference Contractor
Removal from the list at the request of the patient
- Notify the Board in writing of a patient's removal request Contractor
Telephone services
- Do not use 087, 090, 091 or 070 numbers for patient contact unless free Contractor
Cost of relevant calls
- Ensure patients don't pay more to call your practice than a geographic number Contractor
Attendance at practice premises
- Provide services to walk-in patients during normal hours Contractor
Removal from the list at the request of the contractor
- Follow proper procedure when removing a patient from your list Contractor
Removals from the list of patients who are violent
- Request immediate patient removal for violence, report to police and Board Contractor
Termination of responsibility for patients not registered with the contractor
- Manage termination of responsibility for non-registered patients Contractor
Application for closure of lists of patients
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Board must process closure-of-list applications within set timelines Local authority
Approval of an application to close a list of patients
- Close your patient list as specified in the closure notice Contractor
Rejection of an application to close a list of patients
- Wait 3 months before reapplying to close patient list if rejected Contractor
Attendance outside practice premises
- Provide medical services to housebound patients or at agreed locations Contractor
Assignments to closed lists: dispute resolution procedure relating to determinations of the assessment panel
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Family Practitioner Services Independent Appeal Panel must review contested closed-list patient assignments Tribunal / Court
Prescribing
- Ensure prescription forms comply with legal requirements Contractor
(1) Subject to paragraphs 40 and 41, a prescriber shall...
- Issue prescriptions correctly and follow controlled drug rules Any Person
Repeatable prescribing services
- Notify Board and meet conditions before providing repeatable prescribing Contractor
Repeatable prescriptions
- Issue batch issues and notify patients and chemists of changes to repeatable prescriptions Any Person
Newly registered patients
- Invite newly registered patients to a consultation within six months Contractor
Restrictions on prescribing by medical practitioners
- Do not prescribe restricted drugs or appliances on NHS prescriptions without meeting conditions Self-Employed Person
Restrictions on prescribing by supplementary prescribers
- Ensure supplementary prescribers follow prescribing rules Contractor
Excessive prescribing
- Do not prescribe excessive drugs, medicines or appliances Contractor
Terms relating to the provision of dispensing services
- Follow dispensing rules for drugs, medicines and appliances Contractor
Provision of drugs, medicines and appliances for immediate treatment or personal administration
- Provide drugs, medicines or appliances for immediate patient treatment before a prescription can be obtained Contractor
Qualifications of performers
- Ensure medical performers are qualified and not suspended Any Person
No health care professional other than one to whom paragraph...
- Do not perform clinical services unless properly registered Any Person
Patients not seen within three years
- Provide a consultation to patients aged 16-75 not seen in 3 years Contractor
Where the registration of a health care professional or, in...
- Ensure compliance with conditions on healthcare professionals' registration Contractor
No health care professional shall perform any clinical services unless...
- Ensure health professionals have proper training before performing clinical work Employer
Conditions for employment and engagement
- Check medical practitioner credentials before employing or engaging Contractor
(1) A contractor shall not employ or engage –
- Do not employ unverified health care professionals Contractor
(1) The contractor shall not employ or engage a health...
- Check clinical references before hiring health care professionals Contractor
(1) Before employing or engaging any person to assist him...
- Check qualifications and competence of staff before hiring Contractor
Training
- Maintain and update skills of healthcare professionals providing clinical services Contractor
The contractor shall afford to each employee reasonable opportunities to...
- Provide employees with reasonable training opportunities Contractor
Terms and conditions
- Offer GPs employment terms no less favourable than the model terms Contractor
Arrangements for GP Registrars
- Do not reduce staff hours when employing a GP Registrar Contractor
Patients aged 75 years and over
- Provide annual health check for patients aged 75+ on request Contractor
Independent prescribers and supplementary prescribers
- Notify the Board about changes involving independent or supplementary prescribers Contractor
Signing of documents
- Include clinical profession and contractor name on clinical documents Contractor
Level of skill
- Carry out contract obligations with reasonable care and skill Contractor
Appraisal and assessment
- Ensure GPs in your practice participate in appraisals and cooperate with assessments Contractor
Sub-contracting of clinical matters
- Do not sub-contract clinical services unless you check the sub-contractor is competent and notify the Board Contractor
Sub-contracting of out of hours services
- Get Board approval before subcontracting out-of-hours services Contractor
Patient records
- Keep adequate patient records and follow Board rules on format and sharing Contractor
Clinical reports
- Provide a clinical report to the Board when treating a non-list patient Contractor
Confidentiality of personal data
- Appoint a responsible person for data confidentiality Contractor
Practice leaflet
- Create, update and share a practice leaflet for patients Contractor
Provision of information on website
- Publish practice area boundary on your website Contractor
Provision of information
- Provide information to the Board on request Contractor
Inquiries about prescriptions and referrals
- Answer inquiries from the Board about prescriptions and referrals Contractor
Provision of information to a medical officer etc.
- Provide clinical information and answer inquiries when patient consents Contractor
Annual return and review
- Submit an annual return and attend a performance review Contractor
Notifications to the Board
- Notify your Health Board in writing of specific events promptly Contractor
The contractor shall, unless it is impracticable for him to...
- Notify the Board of changes to your published information within 28 days Contractor
(1) The contractor shall notify the Board in writing of...
- Notify the Board when providing essential services to non-registered persons Contractor
Storage of vaccines
- Store vaccines correctly and check fridge temperatures daily Contractor
Notification of deaths
- Report patient deaths on practice premises within one working day Contractor
Entry and inspection by the Board
- Allow authorised Board inspectors to enter and inspect your practice premises Contractor
Complaints procedure
- Establish and operate a complaints procedure for patients Contractor
Further requirements for complaints procedures
- Establish and operate a compliant complaints procedure Contractor
Co-operation with investigations
- Co-operate with complaint investigations by the Board and Commissioner Contractor
Infection control
- Put in place infection control and decontamination arrangements Contractor
Provision of information about complaints
- Report number of complaints to the Board Contractor
Local resolution of contract disputes
- Make every reasonable effort to resolve contract disputes locally before formal proceedings Contractor
Variation provisions specific to a contract with an individual medical practitioner
- Notify the Board before changing to a partnership Contractor
Variation provisions specific to a contract with two or more individuals practising in partnership
- Notify the Board if your medical partnership ends and one partner continues the contract Contractor
Application for approval of an out of hours arrangement
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Health Board must decide out-of-hours application within 28 days Local authority
Termination of an out of hours arrangement
- Terminate out-of-hours arrangement when Board withdraws approval Contractor
Browse 86 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Opt outs of additional services: general
Temporary opt outs and permanent opt outs following temporary opt outs
Out of hours opt outs where the opt out notice is served before 1st October 2004
The contractor may demand or accept a fee or other...
Termination by the contractor
Termination by the Board: general
Termination by the Board for breach of conditions in regulation 4
Termination by the Board for the provision of untrue etc. information
Other grounds for termination by the Board
The Board may serve notice in writing on the contractor...
Termination by the Board: additional provisions specific to contracts with two or more individuals practising in partnership and companies limited by shares
Contract sanctions
Contract sanctions and the dispute resolution procedure
Termination and the dispute resolution procedure
Consultation with the Local Medical Committee
Third party rights
List of patients
Application to the contractor for regulation 15(3) and (5) services
Application for inclusion in a list of patients by a regulation 24 category of visitor
Removals from the list of patients registered elsewhere
Removals from the list of patients who have moved
Where the address of a patient who is on the...
Removals from the list of patients absent from the United Kingdom etc.
Removals from the list of patients accepted elsewhere as temporary residents
Removals from the list of pupils etc. of a school
Closure of lists of patients
Application for an extension to a closure period
Re-opening of list of patients
Approval of closure notice by the Board
Rejection of closure notice by the Board
Assignment of patients to lists: open lists
Assignment of a person to a contractor for regulation 15(3) and (5) services
Assignment of a person who has made an application under paragraph 15B
Assignment of patients to lists: closed lists
Factors relevant to assignments
Assignments to closed lists: determinations of the assessment panel
Assignments to closed lists: assignments of patients by a Board
Interpretation of paragraphs 38, 39, 40 and 41
Provision of dispensing services
Dispensing contractor list
Withdrawal and variation of approval under paragraph 65
(1) Without prejudice to any other remedies which it may...
Access to records for the purpose of the Quality Information Preparation Scheme
Notice provisions specific to a contract with a company limited by shares
Notice provisions specific to a contract with two or more individuals practising in partnership
Notifications to patients following variation of the contract
Making of complaints
Where a patient has died a complaint may be made...
Period for making complaints
Dispute resolution: non-HSS contracts
Dispute resolution procedure
Determination of dispute
Interpretation of Part 7
Variation of a contract: general
Termination by agreement
Termination on the death of an individual medical practitioner
Temporary arrangements for transfer of obligations and liabilities in relation to certain out of hours services
Effect of approval of an arrangement with a transferee out of hours services provider
Review of approval
Immediate withdrawal of approval other than following review
The name of the contractor.
Whether the practice premises have suitable access for disabled patients...
How to register as a patient.
The right of patients to express a preference of practitioner...
The services available under the contract.
The opening hours of the practice premises and the method...
The criteria for home visits and the method of obtaining...
The consultations available to patients under paragraphs 5 and 6...
The arrangements for services in the out of hours period...
If the services in paragraph 17 are not provided by...
The method by which patients are to obtain repeat prescriptions....
If the contractor offers repeatable prescribing services, the arrangements for...
In the case of a contract with a partnership –...
If the contractor is a dispensing contractor, the arrangements for...
How patients may make a complaint or comment on the...
The rights and responsibilities of the patient, including keeping appointments....
The action that may be taken where a patient is...
Details of who has access to patient information (including information...
The name, address and telephone number of the Board which...
In the case of a contract with a company –...
The full name of each person performing services under the...
In the case of each health care professional performing services...
Whether the contractor undertakes the teaching or training of health...
The Contractor’s practice area, including the area known as the...
The address of each of the practice premises.
The contractor’s telephone and fax numbers and the address of...
Contracts with individuals practising in partnership
- Include partnership continuation and automatic binding clauses in GMSC Contractor
Essential services
- Provide essential primary medical services to registered patients and others Contractor
Fees and charges
- Do not charge patients for NHS treatment or prescriptions except where Schedule 4 allows Contractor
Browse 30 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
sch. 8
Citation and commencement
Interpretation
Conditions: General
Conditions relating solely to medical practitioners
General condition relating to all contracts
Reasons
Appeal
Prescribed period under Article 15C(b)(iii) of the Order
Pre-contract disputes
Health services body status
Parties to the contract
Health and social services contract
Duration
Additional services
Opt outs of additional and out of hours services
Services generally
(1) Except in the case of the services referred to...
A contract must contain a term which requires the contractor...
Certificates
Finance
The contract must contain a term to the effect that...
Arrangements on termination
Other contractual terms
(1) The functions of a Local Medical Committee which are...
Commencement
Additional services
Out of hours services
(1) Where the contract is with –
A contract which includes the provision of out of hours...
Explore more
Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.