The Recovery of Health Services Charges (Reviews and Appeals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007

Appeals — General

6.—(1) Where an appeal is not made on the form approved for the time being, but is made in writing and contains all the particulars required under regulations 4(5) or 5(4), as the case may be, the Department may treat that appeal as duly made.

(2) Where it appears to the Department that an appeal does not contain all the particulars required under regulations 4(5) or 5(4), as the case may be, it may require the person making the appeal to provide such particulars as are not included.

(3) Where paragraph (2) applies, the Department may extend the time specified by regulations 4(4) or 5(1), as the case may be, for making the appeal by a period of not more than 14 days.

(4) Where further particulars are required under paragraph (2), they shall be sent to the Department within such a period as it may direct.

(5) Where a person is required under paragraph (2) to provide further particulars and does not do so within the period of time specified under paragraph (4)—

(a) the Department shall send a copy of the appeal together with any other relevant documents, to a legally qualified panel member; and

(b) that panel member shall determine whether the appeal is to be treated as duly made, and shall inform the appellant, and the Department of his decision.

(6) The date of an appeal shall be—

(a) the date on which all the particulars required under regulations 4(5) or 5(4), as the case may be, are received by the Department; or

(b) where a legally qualified panel member determines under paragraph (5)(b) that the appeal is to be treated as duly made, the date on which the appeal was received by the Department.