Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Health Services (Choice of Dental Practitioner) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 and shall come into operation on 6th December 1999.

(2) In these Regulations, “the principal Regulations” means the Health Services (Choice of Dental Practitioner) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998(2).

Amendment of regulation 1 of the principal Regulations

2.  In regulation 1 of the principal Regulations (citation, commencement and interpretation) in paragraph (2) there shall be inserted in the appropriate place the following definitions—

• ““the Agency” has the meaning assigned to it in regulation 2 of the GDS Regulations;

• “dental payment claim form” has the meaning assigned to it in regulation 2 of the GDS Regulations;

• “estimate” has the meaning assigned to it in regulation 2 of the GDS Regulations;

• “medical card” has the meaning assigned to it in regulation 2 of the GDS Regulations;

• “practice record form” has the meaning assigned to it in regulation 2 of the GDS Regulations.”.

Amendment of regulation 2 of the principal Regulations

3.  In regulation 2 of the principal Regulations (Procedure for choosing a dentist) in paragraph (1) after the words “that dentist.” there shall be inserted—

“The person shall produce to the dentist his medical card and shall complete so far as is applicable that part of the dental payment claim form or practice record form or estimate together with such declaration as may be required by the Agency relating to eligibility for primary dental services.”.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations amend the provisions of the Health Services (Choice of Dental Practitioner) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998 relating to the right of any person to choose a dentist from whom he is to receive primary dental services.

Regulation 2 specifies the definition of the Agency, dental payment claim form, estimate, medical card and practice record form.

Regulation 3 introduces a requirement that a person applying to a dentist for primary dental services shall produce his medical card and complete other forms and declarations as may be required by the Agency.