A consultation proposing that in future, there is one national list of general practice doctors, dentists and ophthalmic practitioners approved to provide NHS primary care services is launched today.
Medical, dental and ophthalmic practitioners may not perform NHS primary care services in England unless they are included on a performers list held by a primary care trust (PCT). The performers’ list system provides PCTs with powers to manage these performers and protect the public from any performers that fall below the required standards.
The consultation also considers recommendations made by two reviews that looked at the performers list system. It discusses the three different options that could be pursued and the option that has been chosen.
It seeks responses on proposed changes, including:
- the introduction of national lists
- changes to the ‘minimum service’ that performers on the list will need to perform
- changes to suspension powers, including, immediate suspension and additional powers at suspension hearings
- changes to the requirement to submit criminal records checks.
Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt said:
“It is right that information about a doctor moves with them around the country as they do. By introducing a single national performers list, poor performers will no longer be able to slip through the gaps between different local lists.”
The closing date for responses is 14 December 2012.
- respond to the consultation on line
- performers lists regulations 2013 consultation overview including annex B
- annex A draft regulations
- annex C summary of the recommendations of the performers list review
- annex D provides a word copy of the consultation questionnaire
For enquiries or responding by email send to: performerslists@dh.gsi.gov.uk.
The Health and Social Care Act 2012 requires changes to be made to the Performers Lists Regulations. The Health and Social Care Act 2012 abolishes PCTs and creates the NHS Commissioning Board (NHS CB) and clinical commissioning groups. From April 2013, the performers’ lists will become the responsibility of the NHS CB.
