The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Scotland) Regulations 2018

Removal from the list at the request of the contractor

17.—(1) Subject to paragraph 18, a contractor which has reasonable grounds for wishing a patient to be removed from its list of patients which do not relate to the applicant’s race, gender, social class, age, religion, sexual orientation, appearance, disability or medical condition must—

(a) notify the Health Board in writing that it wishes to have the patient removed; and

(b) subject to sub-paragraph (2), notify the patient of its specific reasons for requesting removal.

(2) Where, in the reasonable opinion of the contractor—

(a) the circumstances of the removal are such that it is not appropriate for a more specific reason to be given; and

(b) there has been an irrevocable breakdown in the relationship between the patient and the contractor,

the reason given under sub-paragraph (1) may consist of a statement that there has been such a breakdown.

(3) Except in the circumstances described in sub-paragraph (4), a contractor may only request a removal under sub‑paragraph (1) if, within the period of twelve months prior to the date of its request to the Health Board it [F1 has warned the patient that the patient is at risk of removal and explained to the patient the reasons for this.]

F2 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F3 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) The circumstances referred to in sub‑paragraph (3) are that—

(a) the reason for the removal relates to a change of address;

(b) the contractor has reasonable grounds for believing that the issue of such a warning would—

(i) be harmful to the physical or mental health of the patient; or

(ii) put at risk the safety of the persons specified in sub-paragraph (5); or

(c) it is, in the opinion of the contractor, not otherwise reasonably practicable for a warning to be given.

(5) The persons referred to in sub-paragraph (4) are—

(a) in the case of a contract with an individual medical practitioner, that practitioner;

(b) in the case of a contract with a partnership, a partner in that partnership;

(c) in the case of a contract with a limited liability partnership, a member of that limited liability partnership;

(d) in the case of a contract with a company, a member of that company;

(e) a member of the contractor’s staff;

(f) a person engaged by the contractor to perform or assist in the performance of services under the contract; or

(g) any other person present—

(i) on the practice premises; or

(ii) in the place where services are being provided to the patient under the contract.

(6) The contractor must record in writing—

(a) the date of any warning given in accordance with sub-paragraph (3) and the reasons for giving such a warning as explained to the patient; or

(b) the reason why no such warning was given.

(7) The contractor must keep a written record of removals under this paragraph which includes—

(a) the reason for removal given to the patient;

(b) the circumstances of the removal; and

(c) in cases where sub-paragraph (2) applies, the grounds for a more specific reason not being appropriate,

and must make this record available to the Health Board on request.

(8) A removal requested in accordance with sub-paragraph (1) will, subject to sub‑paragraph (9) take effect from whichever is the earlier of the following dates—

(a) the date on which the Health Board receives notification of the registration of the person with another provider of essential services (or their equivalent); or

(b) the eighth day after the Health Board receives the notice referred to in sub‑paragraph (1)(a).

(9) Where, on the date on which the removal would take effect under sub-paragraph (8), the contractor is treating the patient at intervals of less than 7 days, the contractor must notify the Health Board in writing of the fact and the removal will take effect on whichever is the earlier of the following dates—

(a) on the eighth day after the Health Board receives notification from the contractor that the person no longer needs such treatment; or

(b) on the date on which the Health Board receives notification of the registration of the person with another provider of essential services (or their equivalent).

(10) The Health Board must notify in writing—

(a) the patient; and

(b) the contractor,

that the patient’s name has been or will be removed from the contractor’s list of patients on the date referred to in sub‑paragraph (8) or (9).

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in sch. 6 para. 17(3) substituted (1.4.2018) by The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts and Primary Medical Services Section 17C Agreements) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2018 (S.S.I. 2018/94), regs. 1, 7(a)(i)

F2 Sch. 6 para. 17(3)(a) omitted (1.4.2018) by virtue of The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts and Primary Medical Services Section 17C Agreements) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2018 (S.S.I. 2018/94), regs. 1, 7(a)(ii)

F3 Sch. 6 para. 17(3)(b) omitted (1.4.2018) by virtue of The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts and Primary Medical Services Section 17C Agreements) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2018 (S.S.I. 2018/94), regs. 1, 7(a)(iii)