# The Health and Social Care (Disciplinary Procedures) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (revoked)

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N.I.

Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

# 2014 No. 267

Health And Social Care

# The Health and Social Care (Disciplinary Procedures) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014

Made

24th October 2014

Coming into operation

24th November 2014

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety F1, makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred on it by Articles 61, 62, 63 and 106 of the Health and                           Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 F2 and Article 10 of the Health and Medicines (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 F3.                        

In accordance with Articles 61(4), 62(3) and 63(3) of the 1972 Order, the Department has consulted with such organisations                           as appear to it to be representative of the dental, ophthalmic and pharmaceutical professions.                        

F1S.I. 1999/283 (N.I. 1), **Article 3(6)**

F2S.I 1972/1265 (N.I. 14)

F3S.I. 1988/2249 (N.I. 24)

## Citation, commencement and interpretationN.I.

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Health and Social Care (Disciplinary Procedures) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014                     and shall come into operation on 24th November 2014.                  

(2) In these Regulations—

“chemist” has the same meaning as in the Pharmaceutical Services Regulations;                  

“complaint” means a complaint made in accordance with directions, concerning the establishment and operation of procedures for dealing                     with complaints against practitioners, given under section 8(1)(b) of the 2009 Act or in accordance with the provisions of                     the regulations specified in paragraph (3);                  

“Dental Committee” means the Dental Committee constituted by the RBSO under regulation 30 of the Dental regulations;                  

“dental list” means the list prepared by the RBSO under regulation 4 of the Dental Regulations;                  

“Dental Regulations” means the Health and Personal Social Services General Dental Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 F4;                  

“dentist” means a dental practitioner;                  

“drug” includes medicine;                  

“estimate” has the same meaning as in the Dental Regulations;                  

“ophthalmic list” has the same meaning as in regulation 8 of the Ophthalmic Regulations;                  

“ophthalmic medical practitioner” has the same meaning as in the Ophthalmic Regulations;                  

“Ophthalmic Regulations” means the General Ophthalmic Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 F5;                  

“optician” means ophthalmic optician;                  

“Pharmaceutical Services Regulations” means the Pharmaceutical Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 F6;                  

“practitioner” means a dentist, ophthalmic medical practitioner, optician or chemist against whom a complaint has been made;                  

“prior approval requirement” has the meaning given to it in regulation 8;                  

“relevant professional body” has the meaning it bears in regulation 13(3);                  

“Statement of Dental Remuneration” has the same meaning as in the Dental Regulations;                  

“the 1972 Order” means the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972;                  

“the 2009 Act” means the Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009 F7;                  

“terms of service” means the terms of service for chemists contained in Schedule 2 to the Pharmaceutical Services Regulations, the terms of                     service for dental practitioners contained in Schedule 2 to the Dental Regulations or the terms of service for ophthalmic                     medical practitioners and ophthalmic opticians contained in Schedule 1 to the Ophthalmic Regulations, as the case may be;                  

“treatment” in relation to general dental services, means—                  

except in the context mentioned in sub-paragraph (b) of this definition—

where at the material time the dentist is providing occasional treatment under the Dental Regulations, treatment within the                                       meaning of those Regulations,                                    

in any other case, care and treatment within the meaning of those Regulations;

in the context of the description of treatment to be specified under regulation 4(2)(b) or 8(2)(a), treatment within the meaning                              of the Dental Regulations other than—                           

one examination in the course of any single consultation,

treatment in an emergency within the meaning of those Regulations,

two radiographs, each of a size not exceeding 16 square centimetres, in the course of any single consultation, and

treatment for which a dentist is remunerated in accordance with Section X (treatment under capitation) of Determination I                                       of the Statement of Dental Remuneration and for which the dentist receives no remuneration other than a capitation payment;                                    

(3) The provisions referred to in the definition of “complaint” in paragraph (2) are—

(a)paragraphs 31A and 31B of Schedule 2 to the Dental Regulations; F8                  

(b)paragraph 11 of Schedule 2 to the Pharmaceutical Services Regulations;                  

(c)paragraphs 10 and 11 of Schedule 1 to the Ophthalmic Regulations.                  

F4S.R. 1993 No. 326 relevant amending instrument is S.R. 1996 No. 114

F5S.R. 2007 No. 436

F6S.R. 1997 No. 381

F72009 c.1 (N.I.)

F8Paragraphs 31A and 31B are inserted by regulation 2 of S.R. 1996 No. 114.

## Provisions relating to the start of disciplinary proceedingsN.I.

2.—(1) Where the Regional Board receives information which it considers could amount to an allegation that a practitioner has failed                     to comply with their terms of service, hereinafter referred to as the “disciplinary matter”, it shall decide either to take no action or take one or both of the courses of action set out in paragraph (2).                  

(2) The courses of action referred to in paragraph (1) are—

(a)to investigate the disciplinary matter;                  

(b)to refer the information to, as it considers appropriate, the Tribunal, the relevant professional body or the police.                  

(3) The Regional Board shall not proceed under paragraph (2)(a) in any case where the allegation and information on which it is                     based is the subject of a complaint which is being investigated.                  

(4) For the purposes of these regulations an allegation remains the subject of a complaint which is being investigated until—

(a)the procedure for investigating the complaint is completed; or                  

(b)the complaint is withdrawn or abandoned by the person bringing it.                  

(5) Where the Regional Board considers that a payment has been made to a practitioner which was not due and the practitioner does                     not admit the overpayment, the Regional Board may investigate the matter at any time.                  

## Time limitsN.I.

3.—(1) Where the disciplinary matter concerns an allegation which has been the subject of a complaint the Regional Board shall decide                     whether to act under regulation 2(2)(a) or (b) within 28 days of the allegation having ceased to be the subject of a complaint                     which is being investigated.                  

(2) Where the disciplinary matter does not concern an allegation which has been the subject of a complaint the Regional Board                     shall decide whether to act under regulation 2(2)(a) or (b) within the time limits specified in paragraph (3).                  

(3) The time limits referred to in paragraph (2) are—

(a)in the case of an ophthalmic medical practitioner, optician or chemist, 26 weeks after the event or matter which is the subject                        of the allegation;                  

(b)in the case of a dentist—                  

(i)subject to paragraph (4), where the matter concerns the treatment of a patient, 26 weeks after the date on which the matter                        came to the notice of the Regional Board;                  

(ii)subject to paragraph (4), where the matter does not concern the treatment of a patient and is reported to the Regional Board                        by the RBSO, 26 weeks after the date on which the matter came to the notice of the RBSO;                  

(iii)where the matter does not concern the treatment of a patient and comes to the notice of the Regional Board other than by a                        report from the RBSO, 26 weeks after the date on which the matter came to the notice of the Regional Board.                  

(4) Where the RBSO reports a matter to the Regional Board in circumstances in which the time limits mentioned in paragraph (3)(a),                     (b) or (c) would otherwise expire within 28 days of the date on which the Regional Board received the report, the relevant                     time limit shall be extended so that it expires on the 28th day after the date on which the Regional Board received the report.                  

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (3) “treatment” has the same meaning as in regulation 2 of the Dental Regulations.                  

## Determination of the Regional BoardN.I.

4.—(1) The Regional Board, after investigating the disciplinary matter and considering the evidence available to it shall–                  

(a)make such findings of fact as it sees fit;                  

(b)draw such inferences from those findings as it sees fit as to whether the practitioner has failed to comply with any one or                        more of their terms of service;                  

(c)determine either—                  

(i)no further action should be taken in relation to the matter; or                  

(ii)that action should be taken in relation to the practitioner, in accordance with any one or more of the following provisions.                  

(2) Where the Regional Board determines that a practitioner whom it has investigated has failed to comply with any of their terms                     of service it may—                  

(a)determine that an amount shall be recovered from the practitioner, whether by way of deduction from their remuneration or                        otherwise;                  

(b)where the practitioner is a dentist, determine that the dentist should be required to submit estimates for the prior approval                        of the Dental Committee—                  

(i)in respect of any treatment of such description; and                  

(ii)during such a period,                  

as shall be specified in the determination;

(c)determine that the practitioner should be warned to comply more closely with their terms of service in future.                  

(3) In acting under sub-paragraphs (a) to (c) of paragraph (2) the Regional Board may take into consideration any previous determination                     made by the Regional Board, so long as such a determination has not been overturned on appeal and was not made more than 6                     years prior to the date of investigation under regulation 2(2), that the practitioner had, on some other occasion, failed                     to comply with their terms of service.                  

(4) The Regional Board shall give notice in writing of its determination under paragraph (1) and any determination under paragraph                     (2) to the practitioner and the Department and shall include with the notice—                  

(a)a statement of its findings of fact and the inferences drawn from those findings; and                  

(b)a statement as to the rights of appeal to the Department under regulation 5.                  

(5) Where, in the case of a dentist, the Regional Board has determined that action should be taken in accordance with paragraph                     (2)(a), by recovery of an amount from the dentist and is of the opinion that such recovery should be effected by deduction                     of the amount from the dentist's remuneration, the Regional Board shall notify the RBSO, and the RBSO shall effect the recovery.                  

(6) Any amount determined under paragraph (2)(a) as being recoverable shall, to the extent that it is not recovered from the practitioner's                     remuneration, be a debt owed by the practitioner to the Regional Board.                  

(7) A determination made by the Regional Board under the provisions of paragraph (2)(a), (b) or (c) shall not take effect until                     the expiration of 45 days from and including the date on which notice thereof is served on the practitioner, or, in a case                     where an appeal has been brought under regulation 5, until the appeal is determined or withdrawn.                  

## Appeal to the DepartmentN.I.

5.—(1) An appeal may be made to the Department by a practitioner—                  

(a)against a finding of fact, or an inference drawn from a finding of fact which, in either case, is adverse to the practitioner                        pursuant to regulation 4 (1)(a) or (b);                  

(b)against any determination by the Regional Board under regulation 4(1)(c)(ii) to take action in accordance with regulation                        4(2)(a),(b) or (c);                  

(c)in respect of a determination by the Regional Board that an overpayment has or has not been made in respect of the practitioner's                        remuneration,                  

by giving notice of appeal in accordance with paragraph (2).

(2) A notice of an appeal shall be in writing and sent to the Department within 45 days beginning on and including the date on                     which notice of the Regional Board's decision was given to the practitioner under regulation 4(4), and shall contain a concise                     statement of the grounds of appeal upon which the practitioner intends to rely.                  

(3) Subject to paragraph (6), on an appeal to which paragraph (1)(a) or (c) applies, the Department shall consider the appeal                     on the basis of such evidence as was available to the Regional Board and of such further evidence as shall have been adduced                     on the appeal, and shall—                  

(a)make such findings of fact as it sees fit;                  

(b)draw such inferences from those findings as it sees fit;                  

(c)in the case of an appeal to which paragraph (1)(a) applies—                  

(i)determine whether or not the practitioner has failed to comply with any one or more of their terms of service; and                  

(ii)determine in accordance with any one or more of the following provisions, that is regulation 4(2) (a), (b) and (c) (as modified                        in accordance with paragraph (5)) or regulations 7 and 8 whether any, and if so what, action should be taken in relation to                        that practitioner; or                  

(d)in the case of an appeal to which paragraph (1)(c) applies determine whether there has been an overpayment and, if so, of                        what amount;                  

(e)in the case of an appeal to which paragraph (1)(b) applies—                  

(i)accept as conclusive—                  

(aa)those findings of fact made by the Regional Board; and                  

(bb)the inferences drawn from those findings;                  

(ii)determine in accordance with any one or more of the following provisions, that is, regulation 4(2)(a), (b) and (c) (as modified                        in accordance with paragraph (5)) or regulations 7 and 8, whether any, and if so what, action should be taken in relation                        to the practitioner.                  

(4) For the purposes of paragraphs (3)(c) (ii) and (4)(b), regulation 4(2)(a), (b) and (c), and (3) shall have effect as if for                     any reference to “the Regional Board” there were substituted a reference to “ the Department ”.                  

(5) The practitioner may withdraw their appeal at any time before it is determined—

(a)by giving notice to the Department of their intention to do so; and                  

(b)with the consent of the Department.                  

## Procedure on appealN.I.

6.—(1) Subject to paragraph (5), if the Department, after considering a notice of appeal and any further particulars furnished by                     the practitioner, is of the opinion that the notice and particulars disclose no reasonable grounds of appeal or that the appeal                     is otherwise vexatious or frivolous, it may determine the appeal by dismissing it forthwith.                  

(2) The Department shall, unless it dismisses the appeal under paragraph (1), send a copy of the notice of appeal and of any further                     particulars furnished by the practitioner to the Regional Board, and shall invite the Regional Board to submit its observations                     on the appeal within 28 days of being sent the copy of the notice of appeal.                  

(3) Where observations are made under paragraph (2), the Department shall send a copy of those observations to the practitioner                     and shall invite them to submit their comments on the observations within 28 days of the practitioner being sent that copy.                  

(4) The Department shall hold an oral hearing to determine the appeal except in the circumstances described in paragraph (5).

(5) Where a practitioner who is not appealing under regulation 5(1)(a), appeals under regulation 5(1)(b) against a decision in                     which the Regional Board has determined to take action under regulation 4(2) (a), (b) or (c), their appeal may be dismissed                     without an oral hearing if the practitioner has stated in writing that they do not want such a hearing.                  

(6) Where there is to be an oral hearing the Department shall appoint three persons to hear the appeal, of whom—

(a)one shall be a barrister or solicitor, and shall act as chair; and                  

(b)two shall be selected in accordance with paragraphs (7) and (8).                  

(7) The persons appointed under paragraph (6)(b) shall be—

(a)where the practitioner is a dentist, two dentists;                  

(b)where the practitioner is an ophthalmic medical practitioner, two ophthalmic medical practitioners;                  

(c)where the practitioner is an optician, two opticians;                  

(d)where the practitioner is a chemist, two pharmacists.                  

(8) In a case to which paragraph (7)(a) applies, one of the dentists shall be selected after consultation with such organisations                     as may be recognised by the Department as representative of the dental profession.                  

(9) The Department shall appoint a day for the hearing and shall give the practitioner and the Regional Board not less than 21                     days notice in writing of the day, time and place of the hearing.                  

(10) No person shall, without the consent of the practitioner and the persons appointed under paragraph (6), be admitted to a hearing                     before those persons unless they are—                  

(a)the practitioner;                  

(b)a representative of the Regional Board who is an officer or member of the Regional Board;                  

(c)a person (who may be a barrister, a solicitor or any other person) engaged by a person mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) or (b)                        to represent them before the persons appointed under paragraph (6); or                  

(d)a person whose attendance is required for the purpose of giving evidence to the persons so appointed.                  

(11) The practitioner and the Regional Board shall not rely on any facts or contentions which do not appear to the Department or                     the persons hearing the appeal to have been raised in the course of the Regional Board's investigations unless—                  

(a)not less than seven days before the hearing, notice in writing was given to the Department of such facts or contentions; or                  

(b)the Department or the persons hearing the appeal give their consent.                  

(12) The persons hearing the appeal shall draw up a report and present it to the Department who shall take it into consideration                     and determine the appeal.                  

(13) Where the Regional Board has made recommendations to the Tribunal following its investigation of a matter, the Department                     may, for the purpose of any appeal under regulation 5(1)(a), treat as conclusive any relevant findings of fact of the Tribunal.                  

(14) The Department shall give notice in writing to the practitioner and the Regional Board of its determination under paragraph                     (1) or (12) of the matters mentioned in regulation 5(3)(c), (d) or (4)(b) and shall include with the notice a statement of                     its reasons for the determination.                  

(15) The provisions of paragraphs 4, 6 and 7 of Schedule A1 to the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 F9 shall apply to an appeal held under this regulation as if in those paragraphs —                  

(a)for the words “person appointed to hold the inquiry” there were substituted the words “ persons hearing the appeal ”; and                  

(b)for the word “inquiry” there was substituted “ appeal ”.                  

F91954 c.33 as amended by 2005c.12 –section 47

## Recovery of amounts from practitioners following appealN.I.

7.—(1) Where —                  

(a)in the case of an appeal under regulation 5(1)(a) the Department determines that a practitioner has failed to comply with                        their terms of service in so far as they have failed to exercise a proper degree of skill and attention in the treatment of                        a patient; or                  

(b)an appeal is made under regulation 5(1)(b) or (c), the Department shall, subject to the following provisions of this regulation,                        determine whether any, and if so what, amount shall be recovered from the practitioner, whether by way of deduction from their                        remuneration or otherwise.                  

(2) The Department shall give notice in writing of its determination under paragraph (1) to the practitioner and the Regional                     Board, and shall include with the notice a statement of its reasons for its determination.                  

(3) Where the Department has determined under paragraph (1) that an amount shall be recovered from a practitioner, it shall direct                     the Regional Board to recover that amount either by deduction from the practitioner's remuneration or otherwise.                  

(4) Where the Regional Board determines that any amount which it has been directed to recover under paragraph (3) is to be recovered                     by deduction from the practitioner's remuneration, it shall notify the RBSO of the amount in question and the RBSO shall deduct                     that amount from the practitioner's remuneration.                  

(5) Any sum which falls by virtue of paragraph (3) to be recovered by the Regional Board shall, to the extent that it is not recovered                     by deduction from the practitioner's remuneration, be a debt owed by the practitioner to the Regional Board.                  

## Prior approval in dental casesN.I.

8.—(1) Where—                  

(a)in the case of an appeal under regulation 5(1)(a), the Department determines that a dentist has failed to comply with one                        or more of their terms of service; or                  

(b)an appeal is made by a dentist under regulation 5(1)(b), the Department shall, subject to the following provisions of this                        regulation, determine whether a prior approval requirement should be imposed in relation to the dentist, that is to say that                        the dentist should, in respect of all or any specific description of treatment, be required to submit estimates for the prior                        approval of the Dental Committee.                  

(2) Where the Department determines under paragraph (1) that a prior approval requirement should be imposed, it shall also determine—

(a)whether that requirement shall apply in the case of all treatment to be provided by the dentist, or only in relation to such                        treatment as the Department shall specify;                  

(b)the period (to be specified as a number of months) for which the dentist is to be subject to the requirement; and                  

(c)the date on which that period is to begin, being a date falling no earlier than 28 days after the date on which notice of                        the requirement is given to the dentist under paragraph (3).                  

(3) The Department shall give notice in writing of its determination under paragraph (1) to the dentist and the Regional Board                     and shall include with the notice a statement of its reasons for the determination.                  

(4) A dentist who is subject to a prior approval requirement under this regulation may at any time after the expiry of a period                     of 6 months from the date on which notice of the requirement was given under paragraph (3) apply to the Department in accordance                     with paragraph (5) for a direction that the requirement cease to have effect before the period specified therein has elapsed.                  

(5) An application under paragraph (4) shall be made in writing and shall state the grounds on which the dentist contends that                     the requirement should cease to have effect.                  

(6) The Department shall, before it determines an application under paragraph (4)—

(a)send a copy of it to the Regional Board inviting it to submit its comments in writing within 21 days of the copy being sent                        to it; and                  

(b)where such comments are made by the Regional Board within the time allowed under sub-paragraph (a), send a copy of them to                        the dentist inviting the dentist to submit their observations in writing within 21 days of the copy being sent to them,                  

and shall not determine the application until the time allowed under sub-paragraph (a), or, where sub-paragraph (b) applies,                     that sub-paragraph, has expired.                  

(7) The Department shall determine the application under paragraph (4) by—

(a)directing that the prior approval requirement shall terminate on a specified date falling before the end of the period specified                        under paragraph (2)(b); or                  

(b)dismissing the application,                  

and shall give notice in writing to the dentist, the Regional Board and the Dental Committee of the determination and of the                     reasons for it.                  

(8) Where, on the date specified under paragraph (2)(c), the name of the dentist in respect of whom the relevant determination                     is made under paragraph (1) is not included in the dental list, the period specified under paragraph (2)(b) shall not begin                     until the next day on which their name is again included in the dental list.                  

(9) For the purpose of computing the date on which a period specified under paragraph (2)(b) is to end, no account shall be taken                     of any day on which the name of a dentist in respect of whom the relevant determination is made is not included in the dental                     list.                  

(10) Where a dentist is subject to a prior approval requirement under regulation 4(2)(b), paragraphs (2), (4), (5), (7), (8) and                     (9) shall have effect as if—                  

(a)in paragraph (2)—                  

(i)for the words “Department determines under paragraph (1)” there were substituted the words “ Regional Board determines under regulation 4(2)(b) ”;                  

(ii)for the word “Department “ in sub-paragraph (a), there was substituted the words “ Regional Board ”; and                  

(b)in paragraph (4)—                  

(i)for the words “this regulation” there was substituted the words “ regulation 4(2)(b) ”;                  

(ii)for the word “Department” there was substituted the words “ Regional Board ”;                  

(c)in paragraph (7)—                  

(i)for the word “Department” there was substituted the words “ Regional Board ”; and                  

(ii)the word “Regional Board” as it appears in that paragraph without the modifications mentioned in this paragraph, were omitted.                  

## Death of a practitionerN.I.

9.  Where at any time after a disciplinary matter has been investigated by the Regional Board but before the Regional Board makes                     a determination under regulation 4 in relation to that matter, the practitioner to whom the matter relates dies, no further                     action shall be taken under these Regulations in relation to that practitioner.                  

## Power to dispense with requirements as to noticesN.I.

10.  The Department may dispense with any requirements of these Regulations respecting notices, applications, documents or otherwise                     in any case where it appears to the Department just and proper to do so.                  

## Power to extend time limitsN.I.

11.—(1) Where, by virtue of a provision of the Regulations—                  

(a)a person is required—                  

(i)to give notice of an appeal or to signify any wish or intention;                  

(ii)to provide documents or reasons;                  

(iii)to submit observations or comments;                  

(iv)to make any statement or representations; or                  

(v)to admit or dispute the truth of an allegation,                  

within a time specified in or under that provision; and

(b)that person applies (whether before or after the expiry of the time so specified) to the Department in accordance with paragraph                        (2) for that time to be extended, the Department may, where it is satisfied that it is in all the circumstances reasonable                        to do so, extend that time by such further period as it shall specify.                  

(2) An application under paragraph (1) shall—

(a)where it seeks the extension of the time allowed for the giving of a notice of appeal, be made in writing;                  

(b)in any other case, be made either orally or in writing,                  

and shall include a statement of the grounds for the application.

## Fresh appointmentsN.I.

12.—(1) Where a person appointed by the Department for any purpose of any provision of regulation 6—                  

(a)dies or resigns before the completion of that purpose; or                  

(b)is unable or refuses to complete that purpose, the Department may rescind that appointment together with that of any other                        person so appointed in relation to the same matter, and appoint different persons in accordance with the provision in question.                  

(2) Where different persons are appointed pursuant to paragraph (1), any matter referred to them shall be considered afresh.

(3) For the purposes of this regulation a person has completed the purpose for which they were appointed if they have indicated                     to any other person also appointed for that purpose the decision to be given or recommendation to be made, even if they had                     not signed a report embodying the decision or recommendation.                  

## Referral of matters to professional bodiesN.I.

13.—(1) — Where the Regional Board has investigated a disciplinary matter and considers that the matter should be brought to the attention                     of the relevant professional body, it may refer to that body any documents in its possession connected with that disciplinary                     matter.                  

(2) Where, in relation to any disciplinary matter—

(a)the Department—                  

(i)receives the determination of the Regional Board; or                  

(ii)makes a determination of an appeal under regulation 6; and                  

(b)that matter has not been the subject of a referral by the Regional Board under paragraph (1); and                  

(c)the Department considers that the matter should be brought to the attention of the relevant professional body,                  

it may refer to that body any documents in its possession connected with that disciplinary matter and any appeal.

(3) In this regulation, “the relevant professional body” means—                  

(a)in relation to an ophthalmic medical practitioner, the General Medical Council F10;                  

(b)in relation to a dentist, the General Dental Council F11;                  

(c)in relation to an optician, the General Optical Council F12;                  

(d)in relation to a pharmacist, the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland F13.                  

F10See Medical Act 1983 (c.54), **section 1**

F11See Dentists Act 1984 (c.24), **section 1**

F12See Opticians Act 1989 (c. 44), **section 1**

F13See Pharmacy (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 (S.I. 1976/1213 N.I 22) Article 3

## Consequential amendmentsN.I.

14.  In the Dental Regulations for regulation 23(1)(b) and 29(b) substitute—                  

“(b)where he does not admit the overpayment but, the matter having been investigated under regulation 2(5) of the Health and Social                           Care (Disciplinary Procedures) Regulations 2014, the Regional Board or the Department on appeal, decides that there has been                           an overpayment,”.                  

## 

15.  In regulation 16 of the Pharmaceutical Services Regulations for sub-paragraph (2)(b) substitute—                  

“(b)where the overpayment is not so admitted but, the matter having been investigated under regulation 2(5) of the Health and                           Social Care (Disciplinary Procedures) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014, the Regional Board or the Department on appeal,                           decides that there has been an overpayment,”.                  

## 

16.  In regulation 14 of the Ophthalmic Regulations, for sub-paragraph (3)(b) substitute—                  

“(b)where he does not admit the overpayment but, the matter having been investigated under regulation 5(5) of the Health and Social                           Care (Disciplinary Procedures) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014, the Regional Board or the Department on appeal, decides                           that there has been an overpayment,”.                  

## RevocationN.I.

17.  The Health and Personal Social Services (Disciplinary Procedures) Regulations Northern Ireland) 1996 F14 are revoked.                  

F14S.R. 1996 No. 137

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety on 24th October 2014

L.S.

Mark Timoney

 A senior officer of the

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

## Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These regulations provide for the investigation and determination by the Regional Health and Social Care Board (the Regional                        Board) of questions whether chemists, dentists, ophthalmic medical practitioners and opticians providing services under Part                        VI of the Health and Personal Social Services Order (Northern Ireland) 1972 have failed to comply with their terms of service,                        and for the consideration and determination of appeals by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety from                        determinations of the Regional Board.                     

The Health and Personal Social Services (Disciplinary Procedures) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 are revoked.