Commentary on Sections Primary dental and medical services: supplementary Section 180: Assistance and support
417.Section 180 inserts a new section 28Y in the 1977 Act. This new section gives PCTs and LHBs a power to assist and support providers and prospective providers of primary dental services and primary medical services who do so through GDS, PDS, GMS or PMS arrangements. Support and assistance includes financial support.
418.For dentistry, this will enable PCTs or LHBs, for example, to increase primary dental services capacity by giving financial assistance to establish or extend dental practice premises. In respect of medical services, the PCT/LHB might employ a practice manager who would then work, for example, for two small practices who might not otherwise be able to avail themselves of such services. Equally the PCT/LHB might employ a general practitioner to support a practice temporarily to avoid the practice opting out of certain service provision. A PCT/LHB will be able to charge for the support given.