Health and Personal Social Services (Disciplinary Procedures) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996

Referral of matters to professional bodies

21.—(1) Where, in relation to any disciplinary matter—

(a) an appropriate Board receives a report of a discipline committee; and

(b) having regard to the facts found by the discipline committee in relation to that matter, that Board 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 such disciplinary matter—

(a) the Department—

(i) receives, pursuant to regulation 8(7) a copy of the report of a discipline committee and the consequent determination of the appropriate Board, or

(ii) makes a determination of an appeal under regulation 9; and

(b) that matter has not been the subject of a referral by the appropriate 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 a doctor or an ophthalmic medical practitioner, the General Medical Council(1);

(b) in relation to a dentist, the General Dental Council(2);

(c) in relation to an optician, the General Optical Council(3);

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

(1)

See the Medical Act 1983 (c. 54), section 1

(2)

See the Dentists Act 1984 (c. 24), section 1

(3)

See the Opticians Act 1989 (c. 44), section 1