The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (Fitness to Practise and Disqualification etc. Rules) Order of Council 2007

Order of proceedings at an interim order hearing

39.—(1) Unless the relevant Committee determines otherwise, the order of proceedings at an interim order hearing before the Health or Disciplinary Committee shall be as follows—

(a) the chair shall declare the hearing open;

(b) where the registrant concerned is not present or represented at the hearing, the chair—

(i) shall require the secretary to adduce evidence that all reasonable efforts have been made to serve the Interim Order Notice on the registrant concerned, and

(ii) having consulted the committee, may—

(aa) if he is satisfied that the Interim Order Notice has been duly served, proceed with the hearing in the absence of the registrant concerned, or

(bb) adjourn the hearing and issue appropriate directions;

(c) the presenter shall inform the Committee of the reasons why it may be necessary to make an interim order, or to revoke, confirm, vary or replace any order previously made, and may adduce evidence and call witnesses (provided that the chair is satisfied that the witness is in a position to provide relevant testimony);

(d) the registrant concerned may make representations as to why an interim order should not be made, or should be revoked or not confirmed, varied or replaced, and he may adduce evidence and call witnesses (provided that the chair is satisfied that the witness is in a position to provide relevant testimony);

(e) the Committee shall deliberate in private and shall then announce its decision, together with the reasons for its decision, in the presence of the parties (where present).

(2) Where the terms of the order to be made or continued, or the terms of the variation to the order, or its revocation, are agreed between the parties, the Committee may take the agreed steps without the need for a hearing.