Explanatory note

These Regulations amend The National Health Service (Fund-holding Practices) Regulations 1993 (“the principal Regulations”), which regulate the recognition and operation of fund-holding practices.

Regulation 21 of the principal Regulations is amended to increase from £5,000 to £6,000 the amount which a fund-holding practice may spend on the provision of goods and services to any one individual in any financial year.

The provisions of the principal Regulations governing the removal of recognition as a fund-holding practice are amended to enable a Regional Health Authority to remove recognition if, after such recognition has been granted but before it has taken effect, it appears to the Regional Health Authority that the relevant conditions for continuing recognition are no longer fulfilled. In particular Schedule 2 is amended to provide for removal of recognition which has been granted but has not yet taken effect where the members of the practice appear not, after all, to be capable of managing their fund.