Citation, commencement and effect

1. —(1) These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (Pension Scheme and Injury Benefits) Amendment Regulations 2004 and shall come into force on 1st April 2004.

(2) Regulation 3(4) of these Regulations shall have effect as from 1st April 1998.

Amendment of the National Health Service (Injury Benefits) Regulations 1995

2. —(1)The National Health Service (Injury Benefits) Regulations 1995( 4 ) shall be amended in accordance with the following paragraphs of this regulation.

(2) For paragraph (3) of regulation 3( 5 ) (persons to whom the Regulations apply), substitute—

“ (3) These Regulations shall not apply to a person—

(a) in relation to any injury or disease wholly or mainly due to, or seriously aggravated by, his own culpable negligence or misconduct;

(b) eligible to participate in a superannuation scheme established under section 1 of the Superannuation Act 1972. ” .

(3) In paragraph (4) of regulation 4( 6 ) (scale of benefits) after “suffers a”, insert “permanent”.

(4) After regulation 18 (avoidance of duplicate benefits), insert—

“ Claims for benefits

18A. A person claiming to be entitled to benefits under these Regulations and his employing authority including any previous employing authority of his shall provide such evidence of entitlement as the Secretary of State may from time to time require. ” .

(5) After regulation 21 (payment to personal representatives), insert—

“ Decisions by medical practitioners and other persons

21A. —(1) The Secretary of State may make arrangements for his functions under Part II of these Regulations in relation to—

(a) a decision whether a person has sustained an injury or contracted a disease to which regulation 3(2) applies and, if so, by what degree his earning ability has been permanently reduced for the purpose of the payment of an allowance referred to in regulation 4(2), (3) or (4);

(b) a decision whether a person has sustained an injury or contracted a disease to which regulation 3(2) applies for the purpose of the payment of an allowance referred to in regulation 4(5),

to be discharged by the person or authority specified in paragraph (2).

(2) In the case of—

(a) a decision specified in paragraph (1)(a), the function may be discharged by a registered medical practitioner appointed by the Secretary of State to act on his behalf;

(b) a decision specified in paragraph (1)(b), the function may be discharged by the employing authority of that person. ” .

Amendment of the National Health Service Pension Scheme Regulations 1995

3. —(1)The National Health Service Pension Scheme Regulations 1995( 7 ) shall be amended in accordance with the following paragraphs of this regulation.

(2) In paragraph (c) of regulation B2( 8 ) (restrictions on membership) for “section 9”, substitute “section 1 or 9”.

(3) For paragraph (3)(d) of regulation D2( 9 ) (contributions by employing authorities), substitute—

“ (d) the cost of providing compensation under regulation 4(1) (payment of compensation), 8(1) (compensation payable to widow, widower or dependants) or 9 (compensation where lump sum on death becomes payable) of the National Health Service (Compensation for Premature Retirement) Regulations 2002; ” .

(4) In paragraph (8) of regulation L1(preserved pension), the words “or, if lower, twice the member’s final year’s pensionable pay (less the member’s lump sum on retirement payable under this regulation)” shall be omitted.

(5) After regulation U1 (extension of time limits), insert—

“ Determinations by medical practitioners

U1A. The Secretary of State may make arrangements for his functions under these Regulations in relation to a decision whether a person is—

(a) permanently incapable of efficiently discharging the duties of his employment because of physical or mental infirmity for the purposes of regulation E2;

(b) incapable of earning a living because of physical or mental infirmity for the purposes of regulation G8(2);

(c) incapable of earning a living because of permanent physical or mental infirmity for the purposes of regulation H1(6);

(d) in good health for the purposes of regulation J1(6);

(e) suffering from mental or physical infirmity that makes him permanently incapable of efficiently discharging the duties of employment or suffering from mental or physical infirmity that makes him permanently incapable of engaging in regular employment for the purposes of regulation L1(3)(a) and (b) respectively,

to be discharged by a registered medical practitioner appointed to act on his behalf. ” .

(6) In paragraph 9(8)(b) of Schedule 2( 10 ) (medical and dental practitioners) after “sub-paragraph (1)”, insert “or (5A)”.