POLICE SERVICE OF NORTHERN IRELAND AND POLICE SERVICE OF NORTHERN IRELAND RESERVE (INJURY BENEFIT) REGULATIONS 2006

Further reference to medical authority

31.—(1) A tribunal hearing an appeal under regulation 33 may, if they consider that the evidence before the medical authority who has given the final decision was inaccurate or inadequate, refer the decision of that authority to him for reconsideration in the light of such facts as the tribunal may direct, and the medical authority shall accordingly reconsider his decision and, if necessary, issue a fresh report and certificate which, subject to any further reconsideration under this paragraph, shall be final.

(2) The Board and the claimant may, by agreement, refer any final decision of a medical authority who has given such a decision to him for reconsideration, and he shall accordingly reconsider his decision and, if necessary, issue a fresh report and certificate, which, subject to any further reconsideration under this paragraph or paragraph (1) or an appeal, where the claimant requests that an appeal of which he has given notice (before referral of the decision under this paragraph) be notified to the Secretary of State, under regulation 30, shall be final.

(3) If a tribunal decide, or a claimant and the Board agree, to refer a decision to the medical authority for reconsideration under this regulation and that medical authority is unable or unwilling to act, the decision may be referred to a duly qualified medical practitioner selected by the tribunal or, as the case may be, agreed upon by the claimant and the Board, and his decision shall have effect as if it were that of the medical authority who gave the decision which is to be reconsidered.

(4) In this regulation a medical authority who has given a final decision means the selected medical practitioner, if the time for appeal from his decision has expired without an appeal to an independent medical referee being made, or if, following a notice of appeal to the Board, the Board has not yet notified the Secretary of State of the appeal, if there has been such an appeal.