3 Membership of the Scheme
For regulation B1 there shall be substituted the following regulation:–

“B1 Membership of the scheme
1 Subject to regulation B2 (age limits and restrictions on membership) the following persons are eligible to be included in the scheme:–
(a) officers; and
(b) medical and dental practitioners, assistant and associate practitioners and trainee practitioners.
2 Each eligible person shall be included in the scheme automatically upon commencing NHS employment unless that person has made an election under regulation B4 (opting out of the scheme) to opt out of the scheme.
3 A person who, on the coming into force of this regulation, is already in NHS employment but is not included in the scheme shall not be included automatically, but may elect to be included in the scheme, if eligible in terms of paragraph (1), by giving notice in writing to the Secretary of State at any time, subject to paragraph (4). The person shall be included in the scheme on the first day of the pay period immediately after the notice is received or such later date (which must be the first day of a pay period) as is specified in the notice.
4 A person may not elect to be included in the scheme in terms of paragraph (3) during a period of absence from work for any reason.
5 A person who is included in the scheme may opt out at any time in accordance with regulation B4.”

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