Explanatory note

These Regulations further amend the National Health Service (General Dental Services) Regulations 1992 (S.I. 1992/661) (“the 1992 Regulations”) which regulate the terms on which general dental services are provided under the National Health Service Act 1977.

Regulation 3 amends regulation 19 of the 1992 Regulations so that Determination V in the Table of Determinations (which are collectively published in a statement called the Statement of Dental Remuneration) relates to the subject matter “commitment payments” (“taliadau ymrwymo”).

Regulation 4 amends Schedule 1 to the 1992 Regulations, which contains the terms of service for dentists who provide general dental services in the National Health Service. The amendments concern a dentist’s obligations in respect of forms and records.

Regulation 4(2) amends the circumstances in which records must be produced for inspection.

Regulation 4(3) inserts a new requirement for a dentist to ask to see evidence in support of a claim that a patient is entitled to exemption from, or remission of, dental charges and to record on the dentist’s claim for remuneration for the treatment provided to such a patient when such evidence has not been seen.

Regulation 4(3) also inserts a new requirement so that a dentist is required to complete a form when he or she makes a claim for remuneration following being recalled to the dental practice in order to provide a patient with treatment for an emergency outside the usual practice hours. The dentist is also obliged to obtain on the said form the signature of the patient, or a person responsible for the patient, that he or she has been recalled to treat.

Regulation 4(4) inserts a requirement for a separate claim form to be completed for treatment given by assistants.