Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the National Health Service (General Medical and Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 1974 (“the 1974 Regulations”) which regulate the terms on which doctors and chemists provide general medical services and pharmaceutical services under the National Health Service Act 1977.

Part I of Schedule 1 to the 1974 Regulations contains the terms of service for doctors providing general medical services. These Regulations amend paragraph 31 of that Schedule by adding a requirement that where a certificate is given by a doctor under that paragraph for the purposes of statutory maternity pay it must be issued in accordance with regulations made under the Social Security Act 1986.

Schedule 3 to the 1974 Regulations lists the certificates which, under his terms of service, a doctor must issue free of charge and includes a list of enactments under or for the purposes of which the certificates are required. These Regulations add Part V of, and Schedule 4 to, the Social Security Act 1986 to that list.