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)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)(b)(ii) 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 Services Regulations.