1(1)A person commits an offence if—N.I.
(a)the person causes, without reasonable excuse and while on HSS premises, a nuisance or disturbance to an HSS staff member who is working there or is otherwise there in connection with work,
(b)the person refuses, without reasonable excuse, to leave the HSS premises when asked to do so by a constable or an HSS staff member, and
(c)the person is not on the HSS premises for the purpose of obtaining medical advice, treatment or care for himself or herself.
(2)A person who commits an offence under this paragraph is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
(3)For the purposes of this paragraph—
(a)a person ceases to be on HSS premises for the purpose of obtaining medical advice, treatment or care for himself or herself once the person has received the advice, treatment or care, and
(b)a person is not on HSS premises for the purpose of obtaining medical advice, treatment or care for himself or herself if the person has been refused the advice, treatment or care during the last 8 hours.
(4)In this paragraph—
“hospital grounds” means land in the vicinity of a hospital and associated with it,
“HSS premises” means—
(a)any hospital vested in, or managed by, an HSS trust,
(b)any building or other structure, or vehicle, associated with the hospital and situated on hospital grounds (whether or not vested in, or managed by, an HSS trust), and
(c)the hospital grounds,
“HSS staff member” means a person employed by an HSS trust or otherwise working for it (whether as or on behalf of a contractor, as a volunteer or otherwise),
“HSS trust” means a Health and Social Services trust established under Article 10 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 (S.I. 1991/194 (N.I. 1)), and
“vehicle” includes an air ambulance.
Commencement Information
I1Sch. 21 para. 1(1)-(3) in force at 18.10.2010 by S.R. 2010/349, art. 2
I2Sch. 21 para. 1(4) in force at 22.6.2009 by S.R. 2009/243, art. 2(b)