Commentary on Sections Primary dental services Section 173: General dental services: transitional
372.Subsection (1) requires the Secretary of State or the Assembly to make an Order in respect of dentists who are providing GDS under section 35 of the 1977 Act immediately prior to the coming into force of section 173. An Order may require a PCT to enter into a new GDS contract with such a person (subsection (2)). Alternatively, it may require a PCT to enter into some other kind of contract for the provision of dental services (subsection (3)), which may be appropriate where it has not been possible to enter into a GDS contract before the coming into force of section 172. An Order may prescribe the circumstances in which a PCT or LHB must enter into a contract, the terms of the contract, remuneration and the resolution of any disputes.