PART 1General

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts and Personal Medical Services Agreements) (Amendment) Regulations 2015.

(2) They come into force on 1st April 2015.

(3) In these Regulations-

"the GMS Contracts Regulations" means the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations 2004(2); and

"the PMS Agreements Regulations" means the National Health Service (Personal Medical Services Agreements) Regulations 2004(3).

PART 2Amendment of the GMS Contracts Regulations

Amendment of regulation 2 of the GMS Contracts Regulations

2.  In regulation 2(1) of the GMS Contracts Regulations(4) (interpretation), after the definition of "approved medical practice" insert-

""armed forces of the Crown" means the forces that are "regular forces" or "reserve forces" within the meaning given in section 374 of the Armed Forces Act 2006(5) (definitions applying for the purposes of the whole Act);".

Amendment of regulation 10 of the GMS Contracts Regulations

3.  In regulation 10 of the GMS Contracts Regulations(6) (health service body status), for paragraph (7)(b) substitute-

"(b)paragraph (5), where it or the Board-

(i)has referred any matter to the NHS dispute resolution procedure before it ceases to be a health service body, or

(ii)refers any matter to the NHS dispute resolution procedure, in accordance with paragraph 100(1) of Schedule 6, after it ceases to be a health service body,

the contractor is to continue to be regarded as a health service body (and accordingly the contract is to continue to be regarded as an NHS contract) for the purposes of the consideration and determination of the dispute;".

Insertion of new regulation 24A into the GMS Contracts Regulations

4.  After regulation 24 of the GMS Contracts Regulations(7) (fees and charges), insert-

"Patient participation

24A.-(1) The contractor must establish and maintain a group known as a "Patient Participation Group" comprising of some of its registered patients for the purposes of-

(a)obtaining the views of patients who have attended the contractor's practice about the services delivered by the contractor; and

(b)enabling the contractor to obtain feedback from its registered patients about those services.

(2) The contractor is not required to establish a Patient Participation Group if such a group has already been established by the contractor pursuant to any directions about enhanced services which were given by the Secretary of State under section 98A of the 2006 Act(8) before 1st April 2015.

(3) The contractor must make reasonable efforts during each financial year to review the membership of its Patient Participation Group in order to ensure that the Group is representative of its registered patients.

(4) The contractor must-

(a)engage with its Patient Participation Group, at such frequent intervals throughout each financial year as the contractor must agree with that group, with a view to obtaining feedback from the contractor's registered patients, in an appropriate and accessible manner which is designed to encourage patient participation, about the services delivered by the contractor; and

(b)review any feedback received about the services delivered by the contractor, whether pursuant to sub-paragraph (a) or otherwise, with its Patient Participation Group with a view to agreeing with that group the improvements (if any) which are to be made to those services.

(5) The contractor must make reasonable efforts to implement such improvements to the services delivered by the contractor as are agreed between the contractor and its Patient Participation Group.

(6) In this regulation "financial year" means the 12 month period beginning on 1st April each year and ending on 31st March the following year.".

Amendment of regulation 26B of the GMS Contracts Regulations

5.  In regulation 26B of the GMS Contracts Regulations(9) (registered patients from outside practice area: variation of contract terms), after paragraph (3) insert-

"(3A) Where, under paragraph (1), a contractor accepts onto its list of patients a person who resides outside of the contractor's practice area and the contractor subsequently considers that it is not clinically appropriate or practical to continue to provide that patient with services in accordance with the terms specified in paragraph (3), or to comply with those terms, the contract must be varied so as to include a term which has the effect of modifying the application of paragraph 20 of Schedule 6 (which relates to the removal of a patient from the list at the contractor's request) in relation to that patient so that-

(a)in sub-paragraph (1), the reference to the patient's disability or medical condition is removed; and

(b)sub-paragraph (4) applies as if, after paragraph (a), there were inserted the following paragraph-

"(aa)the reason for the removal is that the contractor considers that it is not clinically appropriate or practical to continue to provide services under the contract to the patient which do not include the provision of such services at the patient's home address;";".

Insertion of new paragraph 4A into Schedule 6 to the GMS Contracts Regulations

6.  In Schedule 6 to the GMS Contracts Regulations (other contractual terms), after paragraph 4(10) (newly registered patients) insert-

"Newly registered patients – alcohol dependency screening

4A.-(1) Where, under paragraph 4, a patient has been-

(a)accepted onto the contractor's list of patients; or

(b)assigned to that list by the Board,

the contractor must, whether as part of the consultation which the contractor is required to offer that patient under paragraph 4(1) or otherwise, take action to identify any such patient over the age of 16 who is drinking alcohol at increasing or higher risk levels with a view to seeking to reduce the alcohol related health risks to that patient.

(2) The contractor must comply with the requirement in sub-paragraph (1) by screening the patient using either one of the two shortened versions of the World Health Organisation Alcohol Use Disorders Identification ("AUDIT") questionnaire (11) which are known as-

(a)FAST (which has four questions); or

(b)AUDIT-C (which has three questions).

(3) Where, under sub-paragraph (2), the contractor identifies a patient as positive using one of the shortened versions of the AUDIT questionnaire specified in sub-paragraph (2), the remaining questions of the full ten question AUDIT questionnaire are to be used by the contractor to determine increasing risk, higher risk or likely dependent drinking.

(4) Where a patient is identified as drinking at increasing or higher risk levels, the contractor must-

(a)offer the patient appropriate advice and lifestyle counselling;

(b)respond to any other need identified in the patient which relates to the patient's levels of drinking, including by providing any additional support or treatment required for people with mental health issues; and

(c)in any case where the patient is identified as a dependent drinker, offer the patient a referral to such specialist services as are considered clinically appropriate to meet the needs of the patient.

(5) Where a patient is identified as drinking at increasing or higher risk levels or as a dependent drinker, the contractor must ensure that the patient is-

(a)assessed for anxiety and depression;

(b)offered screening for anxiety or depression; and

(c)where anxiety or depression is diagnosed, provided with any treatment or support which may be required under the contract, including referral for specialist mental health treatment.

(6) The contractor must make relevant entries, including the results of the completed questionnaire referred to in sub-paragraph (2), in the patient's record that the contractor is required to keep under paragraph 73.".

Insertion of new paragraph 4B into Schedule 6 to the GMS Contracts Regulations

7.  In Schedule 6 to the GMS Contracts Regulations (other contractual terms), immediately after new paragraph 4A (newly registered patients – alcohol dependency screening) as inserted by regulation 4, insert-

"Accountable GP

4B.-(1) A contractor must ensure that for each of its registered patients (including those patients under the age of 16) there is assigned an accountable general medical practitioner ("accountable GP").

(2) The accountable GP must take lead responsibility for ensuring that any services which the contractor is required to provide under the contract are, to the extent that their provision is considered necessary to meet the needs of the patient, coordinated and delivered to the patient.

(3) The contractor must-

(a)inform the patient, as soon as is reasonably practicable and in such manner as is considered appropriate by the practice, of the assignment to the patient of an accountable GP and must state the name and contact details of the accountable GP and the role and responsibilities of the accountable GP in respect of the patient;

(b)inform the patient as soon as any circumstances arise in which the accountable GP is not able, for any significant period, to carry out the duties of an accountable GP in respect of the patient; and

(c)where the practice considers it to be necessary, assign a replacement accountable GP to the patient and give notice to the patient accordingly.

(4) The contractor must comply with the requirement in sub-paragraph (3)(a)-

(a)by 30th June 2015, in the case of any person who is included in the contractor's list of patients immediately before 1st April 2015; or

(b)in the case of any person who is accepted by the contractor as a registered patient on or after 1st April 2015, within 21 days from the date on which that patient is so accepted.

(5) The requirement in this paragraph does not apply to-

(a)any patient of the contractor who is aged 75 or over, or who attains the age of 75, on or after 1st April 2015; or

(b)any other patient of the contractor if the contractor has been informed that the patient does not wish to have an accountable GP.

(6) Where, under sub-paragraph (3)(a), the contractor informs a patient of the assignment to them of an accountable GP, the patient may express a preference as to which general medical practitioner within the contractor's practice the patient would like to have as the patient's accountable GP and, where such a preference has been expressed, the contractor must make reasonable efforts to accommodate the request.

(7) Where, under sub-paragraph (5)(b), the contractor has been informed by or in relation to a patient that the patient does not wish to have an accountable GP, the contractor must record that fact in the patient's record that the contractor is required to keep under paragraph 73.

(8) The contractor must, by no later than 31st March 2016, include information about the requirement to assign an accountable GP to each of its new and existing registered patients-

(a)on the contractor's practice website (if it has one); and

(b)in the contractor's practice leaflet.

(9) Where the contractor does not have a practice website, the contractor must include the information referred to in sub-paragraph (8) on its profile page on NHS Choices(12).".

Amendment of paragraph 11 of Schedule 6 to the GMS Contracts Regulations

8.  In Schedule 6 to the GMS Contracts Regulations (other contractual terms), in paragraph 11(13) (out of hours services: quality standards and monitoring), for sub-paragraph (1) substitute-

"(1) A contractor which provides out of hours services must, in the provision of those services-

(a)meet the quality requirements set out in the document entitled "National Quality Standards in the Delivery of Out of Hours Services" published on 20th July 2006(14); and

(b)comply with any requests for information which it receives from, or on behalf of, the Board about the provision by the contractor of out of hours services to its registered patients in such manner, and before the end of such period, as is specified in the request.".

Insertion of new paragraph 15A into Schedule 6 to the GMS Contracts Regulations

9.  In Schedule 6 to the GMS Contracts Regulations (other contractual terms), after paragraph 15(15) (application for inclusion in list of patients), insert-

"Inclusion in list of patients: armed forces personnel

15A.-(1) The contractor may, if its list of patients is open, include a person to whom sub-paragraph (2) applies in that list for a period of up to two years and paragraph 25(1)(b) does not apply in respect of any person who is included in the contractor's list of patients by virtue of this paragraph.

(2) This sub-paragraph applies to a person who is-

(a)a serving member of the armed forces of the Crown who has received written authorisation from Defence Medical Services(16) to receive primary medical services from the contractor's practice; and

(b)living or working within the contractor's practice area during the period in respect of which that written authorisation is given.

(3) Where the contractor has accepted a person to whom sub-paragraph (2) applies onto its list of patients, the contractor must-

(a)obtain a copy of the patient's medical record, or a summary of that record, from Defence Medical Services; and

(b)provide regular updates to Defence Medical Services, at such intervals as are agreed with Defence Medical Services, about any care and treatment which the contractor has provided to the patient.

(4) At the end of the period of two years, or on such earlier date as the contractor's responsibility for the patient has come to an end, the contractor must-

(a)notify Defence Medical Services of the fact that the contractor's responsibility for the patient has come to an end; and

(b)update the patient's medical record, or summary of that record, and return it to Defence Medical Services.

(5) In this paragraph, "primary medical services" means the medical services which are provided by the contractor's practice under the contract to which Part 4 of the 2006 Act applies.".

Amendment of paragraph 25 of Schedule 6 to the GMS Contracts Regulations

10.  In Schedule 6 to the GMS Contracts Regulations (other contractual terms), in paragraph 25(17) (removals from the list of patients absent from the United Kingdom etc), for sub-paragraph (1)(b) substitute-

"(b)is in the armed forces of the Crown (except in the case of a patient to which paragraph 15A applies);".

Amendment of paragraph 68 of Schedule 6 to the GMS Contracts Regulations

11.  In Schedule 6 to the GMS Contracts Regulations (other contractual terms), in paragraph 68(18) (appraisal and assessment), for the words "United Kingdom Armed Forces of Her Majesty" in sub-paragraph (3) substitute "armed forces of the Crown".

Amendment of paragraph 74C of Schedule 6 to the GMS Contracts Regulations

12.  In Schedule 6 to the GMS Contracts Regulations (other contractual terms), in paragraph 74C(19) (patient online services)-

(a)after sub-paragraph (1) insert-

"(1A) A contractor must, when complying with the requirement in sub-paragraph (1)(a), consider whether it is necessary, in order to meet the reasonable needs of its registered patients, to take action to increase the proportion of appointments which are available for its registered patients to book online and, if so, take such action.";

(b)after sub-paragraph (2) insert-

"(2A) A contractor must promote and offer to its registered patients, in circumstances where the medical records of its registered patients are held on the contractor's computerised clinical systems, the facility for any such patient to access online all information from the patient's medical record which is held in coded form unless-

(a)in the reasonable opinion of the contractor, access to such information would not be in the patient's best interests because it is likely to cause serious harm to-

(i)the patient's physical or mental health, or

(ii)the physical or mental health of any other person;

(b)the information includes a reference to any third party who has not consented to its disclosure; or

(c)the information in the patient's medical record contains a free text entry and it is not possible under the contractor's computerised clinical systems to separate that free text entry from other information in that medical record which is held in coded form.";

(c)for sub-paragraph (5) substitute-

"(5) The requirements in sub-paragraph (2)-

(a)do not apply where the contractor does not have access to computer systems and software which would enable it to offer the online services described in that sub-paragraph; and

(b)only apply until such time as the contractor is able to fully comply with the requirements in sub-paragraph (2A).

(5A) The requirements in sub-paragraph (2A) do not apply where-

(a)the contractor does not have access to GPSOC accredited computer systems and software which would enable it to offer the online services described in that sub-paragraph to its registered patients; and

(b)the contractor has, by 30th September 2015, publicised its plans to enable it to achieve that requirement by 31st March 2016 by displaying a statement of intent on the practice premises and, where the practice has a website, on the practice website."; and

(d)for sub-paragraph (6) substitute-

"(6) In this paragraph-

(a)"GPSOC accredited computer systems and software" means computer systems and software which have been accredited by the Secretary of State or by another person in accordance with "General Practice Systems of Choice Level 2(20)"; and

(b)"summary information" has the meaning given in paragraph 74(3).".

Substitution of paragraph 76ZA of the GMS Contracts Regulations

13.  In Schedule 6 to the GMS Contracts Regulations (other contractual terms), for paragraph 76ZA(21) (Friends and Family Test(22)), substitute-

"76ZA.-(1) A contractor must give all patients who use the contractor's practice the opportunity to provide feedback about the service received from the practice through the Friends and Family Test.

(2) The contractor must-

(a)report the results of completed Friends and Family Tests to the Board; and

(b)publish the results of such completed Tests(23),

in the manner approved by the Board.

(3) In this paragraph, "Friends and Family Test" means the arrangements that a contractor is required by the Board to implement to enable its patients to provide anonymous feedback about the patient experience at the contractor's practice.".

Insertion of new paragraph 77A into Schedule 6 to the GMS Contracts Regulations

14.  In Schedule 6 to the GMS Contracts Regulations (other contractual terms), after paragraph 77 (provision of information), insert-

"Publication of earnings information

77A.-(1) The contractor must publish each year on its practice website (if it has one) the information specified in sub-paragraph (2).

(2) The information specified in this sub-paragraph is-

(a)the mean net earnings in respect of the previous financial year of-

(i)all general medical practitioners who were party to the contract for a period of at least six months during that financial year, and

(ii)any general medical practitioners who were employed or engaged by the contractor to provide services under the contract in the contractor's practice, whether on a full-time or a part-time basis, for a period of at least six months during that financial year; and

(b)the-

(i)total number of any general medical practitioners to whom the earnings information referred to in paragraph (a) relates, and

(ii)(where applicable) the number of those practitioners who were employed or engaged by the contractor to provide services under the contract in the contractor's practice, whether on a full time or a part time basis, for a period of at least six months during the financial year in respect of which that information relates.

(3) The information specified in sub-paragraph (2) must be-

(a)published by the contractor before the end of the financial year following the financial year to which that information relates; and

(b)made available by the contractor in hard copy form on request.

(4) For the purposes of this paragraph, "mean net earnings" are to be calculated by reference to the earnings of a general medical practitioner that, in the opinion of the Board, are attributable to the performance or provision by the practitioner under the contract of medical services to which Part 4 of the 2006 Act applies, after having disregarded any expenses properly incurred in the course of performing or providing those services.".

Amendment of paragraph 100 of Schedule 6 to the GMS Contracts Regulations

15.  In Schedule 6 to the GMS Contracts Regulations (other contractual terms), in paragraph 100(24) (dispute resolution: non-NHS contracts), for sub-paragraph (1) substitute-

"(1) In the case of a contract that is not an NHS contract, any dispute arising out of or in connection with the contract, except matters dealt with under the complaints procedure pursuant to Part 6, may be referred for consideration and determination to the Secretary of State-

(a)if it relates to a period when the contractor was treated as a health service body, by the contractor or by the Board; or

(b)in any other case, by the contractor or, if the contractor agrees in writing, by the Board.".

Amendment of Schedule 10 to the GMS Contracts Regulations

16.  In Schedule 10 to the GMS Contracts Regulations(25) (information to be included in practice leaflets), after paragraph 18 (information about out of hours services not provided by the contractor) insert-

"19.  Information about the assignment by the contractor to its new and existing patients of an accountable GP in accordance with paragraph 4A of Schedule 6.

20.  Information about the assignment by the contractor to its patients aged 75 and over of an accountable GP in accordance with paragraph 6A of Schedule 6.".

PART 3Amendment of the PMS Agreements Regulations

Amendment of regulation 2 of the PMS Agreements Regulations

17.  In regulation 2 of the PMS Agreements Regulations(26) (interpretation)-

(a)in the definition of "armed forces GP", for the words "United Kingdom Armed Forces of Her Majesty" substitute "armed forces of the Crown"; and

(b)after the definition of "armed forces GP" insert-

""armed forces of the Crown" means the forces that are "regular forces" or "reserve forces" within the meaning given in section 374 of the Armed Forces Act 2006(27) (definitions applying for the purposes of the whole Act);".

Amendment of regulation 9 of the PMS Agreements Regulations

18.  In regulation 9 of the PMS Agreements Regulations(28) (health service body status)-

(a)in paragraph (8), for sub-paragraph (b) substitute-

"(b)paragraph (5), where it or the Board-

(i)has referred any matter to the NHS dispute resolution procedure before it ceases to be a health service body, or

(ii)refers any matter to the NHS dispute resolution procedure, in accordance with paragraph 94(1)(a) of Schedule 5, after it ceases to be a health service body,

the contractor is to continue to be regarded as a health service body (and accordingly the agreement is to continue to be regarded as an NHS contract) for the purposes of the consideration and determination of the dispute;".

Insertion of new regulation 15A into the PMS Agreements Regulations

19.  After regulation 15 of the PMS Agreements Regulations(29) (fees and charges) insert-

"Patient participation

15A.-(1) A contractor which provides essential services must establish and maintain a group known as a "Patient Participation Group" comprising of some of its registered patients for the purposes of-

(a)obtaining the views of patients who have attended the contractor's practice about the services delivered by the contractor; and

(b)enabling the contractor to obtain feedback from its registered patients about those services.

(2) The contractor is not required to establish a Patient Participation Group if such a group has already been established by the contractor pursuant to the provisions of any directions about enhanced services which were given by the Secretary of State under section 98A of the 2006 Act(30) before 1st April 2015.

(3) The contractor must make reasonable efforts during each financial year to review the membership of its Patient Participation Group in order to ensure that the Group is representative of its registered patients.

(4) The contractor must-

(a)engage with its Patient Participation Group, at such frequent intervals throughout each financial year as the contractor must agree with that Group, with a view to obtaining feedback from the contractor's registered patients, in an appropriate and accessible manner which is designed to encourage patient participation, about the services delivered by the contractor; and

(b)review any feedback received about the services delivered by the contractor, whether pursuant to sub-paragraph (a) or otherwise, with its Patient Participation Group with a view to agreeing with that Group the improvements (if any) which are to be made to those services.

(5) The contractor must make reasonable efforts to implement such improvements to the services delivered by the contractor as are agreed between the contractor and its Patient Participation Group.

(6) In this regulation "financial year" means the 12 month period beginning on 1st April each year and ending on 31st March the following year.".

Amendment of regulation 18B of the PMS Agreements Regulations

20.  In regulation 18B of the PMS Agreements Regulations(31) (registered patients from outside practice area: variation of contractual terms), after paragraph (3) insert-

"(3A) Where, under paragraph (1), a contractor accepts onto its list of patients a person who resides outside of the contractor's practice area and the contractor subsequently considers that it is not clinically appropriate or practical to continue to provide that patient with services in accordance with the terms specified in paragraph (3), or to comply with those terms, the agreement must be varied so as to include a term which has the effect of modifying the application of paragraph 19 of Schedule 5 (which relates to the removal of a patient from the list at the contractor's request) in relation to that patient so that-

(a)in sub-paragraph (1), the reference to the patient's disability or medical condition is removed; and

(b)sub-paragraph (4) applies as if, after paragraph (a), there were inserted the following paragraph-

"(aa)the reason for the removal is that the contractor considers that it is not clinically appropriate or practical to continue to provide services under the agreement to the patient which do not include the provision of such services at the patient's home address;".".

Amendment of paragraph 9 of Schedule 5 to the PMS Agreements Regulations

21.  In Schedule 5 to the PMS Agreements Regulations (other contractual terms), in paragraph 9(32) (out of hours services: quality standards and monitoring), for sub-paragraph (2) substitute-

"(2) The contractor must, in the provision of those services-

(a)meet the quality requirements set out in the document entitled "National Quality Standards in the Delivery of Out of Hours Services" published on 20th July 2006(33); and

(b)comply with any requests for information which it receives from or on behalf of the Board about the provision by the contractor of out of hours services to its registered patients in such manner, and before the end of such period, as is specified in the request.".

Insertion of new paragraph 13ZA into Schedule 5 to the PMS Agreements Regulations

22.  In Schedule 5 to the PMS Agreements Regulations (other contractual terms), after paragraph 13 (list of patients) insert-

"Newly registered patients – alcohol dependency screening

13ZA.-(1) Where under paragraph 13 a patient has been-

(a)accepted onto the contractor's list of patients; or

(b)assigned to that list by the Board,

the contractor must take action to identify any such patient over the age of 16 who is drinking alcohol at increasing or higher risk levels with a view to seeking to reduce the alcohol related health risks to that patient.

(2) The contractor must comply with the requirement in sub-paragraph (1) by screening the patient using either one of the two shortened versions of the World Health Organisation Alcohol Use Disorders Identification ("AUDIT") questionnaire(34) which are known as-

(a)FAST (which has four questions); or

(b)AUDIT-C (which has three questions).

(3) Where, under sub-paragraph (2), the contractor identifies a patient as positive using either of the shortened versions of the AUDIT questionnaire specified in sub-paragraph (2), the remaining questions of the full ten question AUDIT questionnaire are to be used by the contractor to determine increasing risk, higher risk or likely dependent drinking.

(4) Where a patient is identified as drinking at increasing or higher risk levels, the contractor must-

(a)offer the patient appropriate advice and lifestyle counselling;

(b)respond to any other need identified in the patient which relates to the patient's levels of drinking, including by providing any additional support or treatment required for people with mental health issues; and

(c)in any case where the patient is identified as a dependent drinker, offer the patient a referral to such specialist services as are considered clinically appropriate to meet the needs of the patient.

(5) Where a patient is identified as drinking at increasing or higher risk levels or as a dependent drinker, the contractor must ensure that the patient is-

(a)assessed for anxiety and depression;

(b)offered screening for anxiety or depression; and

(c)where anxiety or depression is diagnosed, provided with any treatment and support which may be required under the agreement, including referral for specialist mental health treatment.

(6) The contractor must make relevant entries, including the results of the completed questionnaire referred to in sub-paragraph (2), in the patient's record that the contractor is required to keep under paragraph 70.".

Insertion of new paragraph 13ZB into Schedule 5 the PMS Agreements Regulations

23.  In Schedule 5 to the PMS Agreements Regulations (other contractual terms), immediately after new paragraph 13ZA (newly registered patients – alcohol dependency screening) as inserted by regulation 18, insert-

"Accountable GP

13ZB.-(1) A contractor must ensure that for each of its registered patients (including patients under the age of 16) there is assigned an accountable general medical practitioner ("accountable GP").

(2) The accountable GP must take lead responsibility for ensuring that any services which the contractor is required to provide under the agreement are, to the extent that their provision is considered necessary to meet the needs of the patient, coordinated and delivered to the patient.

(3) The contractor must-

(a)inform the patient, as soon as is reasonably practicable and in such manner as is considered appropriate by the practice, of the assignment to the patient of an accountable GP and must state the name and contact details of the accountable GP and the role and responsibilities of the accountable GP in respect of the patient;

(b)inform the patient as soon as any circumstances arise in which the accountable GP is not able, for any significant period, to carry out the duties of an accountable GP in respect of the patient; and

(c)where the practice considers it to be necessary, assign a replacement accountable GP to the patient and give notice to the patient accordingly.

(4) The contractor must comply with the requirement in sub-paragraph (3)(a)-

(a)by 30th June 2015, in the case of any person who is included in the contractor's list of patients immediately before 1st April 2015; or

(b)in the case of any person who is accepted by the contractor as a registered patient on or after 1st April 2015, within 21 days from the date on which that patient is so accepted.

(5) The requirement in sub-paragraph (1) does not apply to-

(a)any patient of the contractor who is aged 75 or over, or who attains the age of 75, on or after 1st April 2015; or

(b)any other patient of the contractor if the contractor has been informed that the patient does not wish to have an accountable GP.

(6) Where, under sub-paragraph (3)(a), the contractor informs a patient of the assignment to them of an accountable GP, the patient may express a preference as to which general medical practitioner within the contractor's practice the patient would like to have as the patient's accountable GP and, where such a preference has been expressed, the contractor must make reasonable efforts to accommodate the request.

(7) Where, under sub-paragraph (5)(b), the contractor has been informed by or in relation to a patient that the patient does not wish to have an accountable GP, the contractor must record that fact in the patient's record that the contractor is required to keep under paragraph 70.

(8) The contractor must, by no later than 31st March 2016, include information about the requirement to assign an accountable GP to each of its new and existing registered patients-

(a)on the contractor's practice website (if it has one); and

(b)in the contractor's practice leaflet.

(9) Where the contractor does not have a practice website, the contractor must include the information referred to in sub-paragraph (8) on its profile page on NHS Choices(35).".

Insertion of new paragraph 14A into Schedule 5 to the PMS Agreements Regulations

24.  In Schedule 5 to the PMS Agreements Regulations (other contractual terms), after paragraph 14(36) (application for inclusion in a list of patients), insert-

"Inclusion in list of patients: armed forces personnel

14A.-(1) The contractor may, if its list of patients is open, include a person to whom sub-paragraph (2) applies in its list of patients for a period of up to two years and paragraph 24(1)(b) does not apply in respect of any person included in the contractor's list of patients by virtue of this paragraph.

(2) This sub-paragraph applies to a person who is-

(a)a serving member of the armed forces of the Crown who has received written authorisation from Defence Medical Services(37) to receive primary medical services from the contractor's practice; and

(b)living or working within the contractor's practice area during the period in respect of which that written authorisation is given.

(3) Where the contractor has accepted a person to whom sub-paragraph (2) applies onto its list of patients, the contractor must-

(a)obtain a copy of the patient's medical record or a summary of that record from Defence Medical Services; and

(b)provide regular updates to Defence Medical Services at such intervals as are agreed with Defence Medical Services about any care and treatment which the contractor has provided to the patient.

(4) At the end of the period of two years, or on such earlier date as the contractor's responsibility for the patient has come to an end, the contractor must-

(a)notify Defence Medical Services in writing that its responsibility for that person has come to an end; and

(b)update the patient's medical record, or summary of that record, and return it to Defence Medical Services.

(5) In this paragraph, "primary medical services" are the medical services which are provided by the contractor's practice under the contract to which Part 4 of the 2006 Act applies.".

Amendment of paragraph 24 of Schedule 5 to the PMS Agreements Regulations

25.  In Schedule 5 to the PMS Agreements Regulations (other contractual terms), in paragraph 24(38) (removals from the list of patients absent from the United Kingdom etc), for sub-paragraph (1)(b) substitute-

"(b)is in the armed forces of the Crown (except in the case of a patient to whom regulation 14A applies);".

Amendment of paragraph 70D of Schedule 5 to the PMS Agreements Regulations

26.  In Schedule 5 to the PMS Agreements Regulations (other contractual terms), in paragraph 70D(39) (patient online services)-

(a)after sub-paragraph (1) insert-

"(1A) A contractor must, when complying with the requirement in sub-paragraph (1)(a), consider whether it is necessary, in order to meet the reasonable needs of its registered patients, to take action to comply with the requirement in sub-paragraph (1)(a) so as to increase the proportion of appointments which are available for its registered patients to book online and, if so, take such action.";

(b)after sub-paragraph (2) insert-

"(2A) A contractor must promote and offer to its registered patients, in circumstances where the medical records of its registered patients are held on the contractor's computerised clinical systems, the facility for any such patient to access online all information from the patient's medical record which is held in coded form unless-

(a)in the reasonable opinion of the contractor, access to such information would not be in the patient's best interests because it is likely to cause serious harm-

(i)to the patient's physical or mental health, or

(ii)to the physical or mental health of any other person;

(b)the information includes a reference to any third party who has not consented to its disclosure; or

(c)the information in the patient's medical record contains a free text entry and it is not possible under the contractor's computerised clinical systems to separate that free text entry from other information in that medical record which is held in coded form."; and

(c)for sub-paragraph (5) insert-

"(5) The requirements in sub-paragraph (2)-

(a)do not apply where the contractor does not have access to computer systems and software which would enable it to offer the online services described in that sub-paragraph; and

(b)only apply until such time as the contractor is able to fully comply with the requirements in sub-paragraph (2A).

(5A) The requirements in sub-paragraph (2A) do not apply where-

(a)the contractor does not have access to GPSOC accredited computer systems and software which would enable it to offer the online services described in that sub-paragraph to its registered patients; and

(b)the contractor has, by 30th September 2015, publicised its plans to enable it to achieve those requirements by 31st March 2016 by displaying a statement of intent on the practice premises and, where the practice has a website, on the practice website."; and

(d)for sub-paragraph (6) substitute-

"(6) In this paragraph-

(a)"GPSOC accredited computer systems and software" means computer systems and software which have been accredited by the Secretary of State or another person in accordance with "General Practice Systems of Choice Level 2(40)"; and

(b)"summary information" has the meaning given in paragraph 70A(3).".

Substitution of paragraph 72ZA of Schedule 5 to the PMS Agreements Regulations

27.  In Schedule 5 to the PMS Agreements Regulations (other contractual terms), for paragraph 72ZA(41) (Friends and Family Test(42)), substitute-

"72ZA.-(1) A contractor which provides essential services must give all patients who use the contractor's practice the opportunity to provide feedback about the service received from the practice through the Friends and Family Test.

(2) The contractor must-

(a)report the results of completed Friends and Family Tests to the Board; and

(b)publish the results of such completed Tests(43),

in the manner approved by the Board.

(3) In this paragraph, "Friends and Family Test" means the arrangements that a contractor is required by the Board to implement to enable its patients to provide anonymous feedback about the patient experience at the contractor's practice.".

Insertion of new paragraph 73A into Schedule 5 to the PMS Agreements Regulations

28.  In schedule 5 to the PMS Agreements Regulations (other contractual terms), after paragraph 73 (provision of information), insert-

"Publication of earnings information

73A.-(1) The contractor must publish each year on its practice website (if it has one) the information specified in sub-paragraph (2).

(2) The information specified in this sub-paragraph is-

(a)the mean net earnings in respect of the previous financial year of-

(i)all general medical practitioners who were party to the agreement for a period of at least six months during that financial year, and

(ii)any general medical practitioners who were employed or engaged by the contractor to provide services under the contract in the contractor's practice, whether on a full-time or part-time basis, for a period of at least six months during that financial year; and

(b)the-

(i)total number of any general medical practitioners to whom the earnings information referred to in paragraph (a) relates, and

(ii)(where applicable) the number of those practitioners who have been employed or engaged by the contractor to provide services under the agreement in the contractor's practice on a full time or a part time basis and for a period of at least six months during the financial year in respect of which that information relates.

(3) The information specified in sub-paragraph (2) must be-

(a)published by the contractor before the end of the financial year following the financial year to which that information relates; and

(b)made available by the contractor in hard copy form on request.

(4) For the purposes of this paragraph, "mean net earnings" are to be calculated by reference to the earnings of a general medical practitioner that, in the opinion of the Board, are attributable to the performance or provision by the practitioner under the agreement of medical services to which Part 4 of the 2006 Act applies, after having disregarded any expenses properly incurred in the course of performing or providing those services.".

Amendment of paragraph 94 of Schedule 5 to the PMS Agreements Regulations

29.  In Schedule 5 to the PMS Agreements Regulations (other contractual terms), in paragraph 94(44) (dispute resolution: non-NHS contracts), for sub-paragraph (1) substitute-

"(1) In the case of an agreement that is not an NHS contract, any dispute arising out of or in connection with the agreement, except matters dealt with under the complaints procedure pursuant to Part 6, may be referred for consideration and determination to the Secretary of State-

(a)if it relates to a period when the contractor was treated as a health service body, by the contractor or by the Board; or

(b)in any other case, by the contractor or, if the contractor agrees in writing, by the Board.".

Amendment of Schedule 10 to the PMS Agreements Regulations

30.  In Schedule 10 of the PMS Agreements Regulations(45) (information to be included in a contractor's practice leaflet) after paragraph 16 (information about out of hours services which are not provided by the contractor) insert-

"17.  Information about the assignment by the contractor to its new and existing patients of an accountable GP in accordance with paragraph 13ZB of Schedule 5.

18.  Information about the assignment by the contractor to its patients aged 75 and over of an accountable GP under paragraph 13A of Schedule 5.".

PART 4Transitional provision applying to the amendments made by regulations 3, 15, 18 and 29

Transitional provision relating to disputes in respect of which proceedings have commenced before 3rd November 2014

31.-(1) Paragraph (2) applies as regards any dispute which relates to matters arising before 1st April 2015 under-

(a)a general medical services contract; or

(b)section 92 arrangements,

which is or are not an NHS contract.

(2) If legal proceedings relating to the dispute have commenced before 1st April 2015, the Regulations amended by regulations 3, 15, 18 and 29 are to have effect in relation to that dispute as if regulations 3, 15, 18 and 29 had not come into force.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the National Health Service (General Medical Service Contracts) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/291, as amended) ("the GMS Contracts Regulations") and the National Health Service (Personal Medical Services Agreements) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/627, as amended) ("the PMS Agreements Regulations") which make provision in respect of the services provided under a general medical services contract and a personal medical services agreement made pursuant to provision in Part 4 of the National Health Service Act 2006 (primary medical services). They apply in relation to England only.

Part 2 of the Regulations amends the GMS Contracts Regulations.

Regulation 2 inserts a definition of "armed forces of the Crown" into regulation 2(1).

Regulation 3 amends regulation 10 under which a provider of general medical services under the statutory arrangements governing the provision of those services may choose to be a "health service body" and so for their contract to be an NHS contract. If they do, they may also choose to cease to be such a body and so for their contract to cease to be an NHS contract. Where a contractor chooses to cease to be a health service body, the amendments made by this regulation provide that disputes relating to the period when their contract was an NHS contract must nevertheless be dealt with via the NHS dispute resolution procedure.

Regulation 4 inserts a new regulation 24A which introduces a requirement on contractors to establish and maintain a Patient Participation Group for the purposes of obtaining, reviewing and acting on feedback from the contractor's registered patients about the services provided by the contractor.

Regulation 5 amends regulation 26B to enable the requirements in paragraph 20 of Schedule 6 to be modified where the contractor does not consider that it is clinically appropriate or practical to continue to provide services to a patient who resides outside of its practice area on a basis which does not include home visits.

Regulation 6 inserts a new paragraph 4A into Schedule 6 to introduce a requirement for the contractor to offer alcohol screening to newly registered patients over the age of 16 and to offer appropriate interventions to any such patient who is identified as drinking at increasing, higher or dependent levels.

Regulation 7 inserts a new paragraph 4B into Schedule 6 to introduce a requirement for the contractor to assign an accountable GP to every patient under the age of 75 years except where a patient does not want to have one assigned to them. The accountable GP is to take lead responsibility for the coordination of the services provided to the patient at the contractor's practice. Patients are able to express a preference as to which general medical practitioner who is employed or engaged to provide services at the contractor's practice they would like to have as their accountable GP.

Regulation 8 amends paragraph 11 of Schedule 6 to introduce a requirement on contractors who provide out of hours services to their registered patients to comply with any requests for information about the provision of such services which are made by or on behalf of the National Health Service Commissioning Board ("the Board").

Regulation 9 inserts a new paragraph 15A into Schedule 6 which enables a contractor to accept a member of Her Majesty's armed forces as a patient for a maximum period of two years if that person has been authorised in writing by Defence Medical Services to receive medical services under the contract at the contractor's practice and the contractor is satisfied that the person is living or working within the contractor's practice area.

Regulations 10 and 11 make amendments to paragraphs 25 and 68 of Schedule 6 which are consequential to the amendments made by regulation 9.

Regulation 12 amends paragraph 74C of Schedule 6 to require a contractor to provide patients with online access to their medical record except in certain limited circumstances. It also requires the contractor to take action to increase the number of appointments which are available for its registered patients to book online where this is necessary to meet the reasonable needs of those patients.

Regulation 13 substitutes paragraph 76ZA of Schedule 6 which makes provision in respect of the Friends and Family Test which a contractor is required to make available to patients. The amendment effectively removes the previous requirement for a contractor to publish the results of completed tests at local level.

Regulation 14 inserts a new paragraph 77A into Schedule 6 which requires a contractor to publish earnings information in respect of the previous financial year relating to all general medical practitioners who are party to the contract or who are employed or engaged by the contractor, whether or a full time or part time basis and for a specified minimum period during that year, to provide services at the contractor's practice. The information must be published annually in respect of the preceding financial year on the contractor's practice website (or on the NHS Choices website in any case where the contractor does not have a practice website) and in the contractor's practice leaflet.

Regulation 15 amends paragraph 100 of Schedule 6 so as to provide, in effect, that disputes under a GMS contract that is not a NHS contract, but which relate to a time when the contract was an NHS contract, may be referred to the NHS dispute resolution procedure by either the contractor or the Board. Before these Regulations came into force, disputes under a non-NHS contract could only be dealt with via the NHS dispute resolution procedure with the contractor's consent.

Regulation 16 makes consequential amendments to Schedule 10 to the GMS Contracts Regulations which add to the information listed in that Schedule which the contractor is required to include in its practice leaflet.

Part 3 of the Regulations make amendments to the PMS Agreements Regulations which are similar in nature to those made by regulations 2 to 16 in Part 1.

Part 4 of the Regulations makes an exception by way of a transitional provision to the amendments made by regulation 3, 15, 18 and 29 of these Regulations.