(1) If the Health Authority grants the application under regulation 18H(1)(b) made by the members of the partnership—
(a) it shall so notify them in writing; and
(b) the replacement doctor shall (subject to paragraph (10)) be subject to the same conditions of practice as were imposed, pursuant to regulation 13(1)(b) or (c) (or, where those conditions of practice were imposed prior to the coming into force of these regulations, then to the conditions of practice that were imposed pursuant to regulations made under section 33(4) of the Act) on the doctor who has died, or who has withdrawn or been removed from the Health Authority’s medical list,
but if it does not grant the application the Health Authority shall give the partnership reasons in writing why it did not do so.
(2) Where the application was granted, the remaining members of the partnership may nominate a doctor as the replacement doctor and shall then apply to the Health Authority for its approval of the doctor so nominated.
(3) Such an application shall include the information and undertakings given by the replacement doctor so nominated set out in Part III of Schedule 3.
(4) The approval by the Health Authority of the doctor so nominated shall (subject to paragraph (6)) be subject to such criteria reasonably relating to the skills, knowledge and experience of the additional doctor, and to the needs of the patients of the practice, as may be agreed between the Health Authority and the partnership.
(5) The Health Authority shall not approve any doctor so nominated until the criteria referred to in paragraph (4) have been agreed.
(6) A Health Authority—
(a) shall not approve a replacement doctor—
(i) unless he is suitably experienced (within the meaning of section 31 of the Act ),
(ii) unless he is able to satisfy the Health Authority that he has that knowledge of English which, in the interests of himself and his patients, is necessary for the provision of general medical services in the Authority’s area,
(iii) where he has attained the age of 70 years,
(iv) where is is disqualified, or treated as disqualified, from inclusion in a Health Authority’s medical list by virtue of a direction of the Tribunal (or by virtue of any corresponding direction under any corresponding power in force in Scotland or Northern Ireland), and
(b) may refuse to approve a replacement doctor on the following additional grounds—
(i) that he does not adequately fulfill the agreed criteria, or
(ii) that his entry in the Medical Register is subject to conditions imposed pursuant to a direction given by the Professional Conduct Committee under section 36 of the Medical Act 1983 , or by the Health Committee under section 37 of that Act; pursuant to an order of either of those Committees or of the Preliminary Proceedings Committee under section 42 of that Act; or pursuant to a direction given by the Committee on Professional Performance made under section 36A of that Act.
(7) Where the Health Authority approves a replacement doctor it (and, where applicable, any other Authority referred to in regulation 18H(3)), shall enter his name on its medical list and shall inform the Medical Practices Committee that it has done so.
(8) Subject to paragraph (9), where a Health Authority refuses to approve a replacement doctor—
(a) except where an application for approval has been refused pursuant to paragraph (6)(a)(i), (iii), or (iv) or (b)(ii), that doctor shall have a right of appeal on a point of law to the Secretary of State, to which the provisions of regulation 18G(4) to (14) shall apply; and
(b) the Health Authority shall so inform him and shall give him a written statement of the reasons for its decision.
(9) Where a doctor does appeal under paragraph (8), unless the remaining members of the partnership confirm to the Secretary of State in writing within the period of 14 days beginning on the day a notice asking them to do so was sent to them (or within such further period as the Secretary of State may for good cause allow) that they support the doctor’s appeal, his appeal shall not proceed and, for the purposes of paragraph 32(2) of Schedule 2, any appeal not proceeded with shall be deemed to have been dismissed on the expiry of such period.
(10) A Health Authority which has approved a replacement doctor pursuant to this regulation may thereafter apply to the Medical Practices Committee—
(a) in the case of a condition under regulation 13(1)(b) imposed pursuant to paragraph (1)(b), to vary that condition; or
(b) in the case of a condition under regulation 13(1)(c) imposed pursuant to paragraph (1)(b), to vary or revoke that condition,
and when dealing with such an application, the Medical Practices Committee shall proceed in accordance with the provisions of regulation 15(1)(b) to (7), and regulation 15(3)(b) shall have effect as if for the words “regulation 11(4)” there were substituted the words “regulation 18H(3)”.
(11) Before—
(a) agreeing criteria under paragraph (4), or
(b) approving a replacement doctor, or
(c) making an application to the Medical Practices Committee under paragraph (10), or
(d) (where applicable), making a selection under regulation 15(1)(b)(ii) (as applied by paragraph (10)),
a Health Authority shall consult the Local Medical Committee and any other Health Authority in whose area reside individuals who are, or are expected to be, on the replacement doctor’s list.