The National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2006

Suspension

11.—(1) If a Board is satisfied that it is necessary to do so for the protection of members of the public or is otherwise in the public interest, it may suspend an ophthalmic medical practitioner or an optician from its Ophthalmic List in accordance with this regulation–

(a) while it considers whether to remove that person from its Ophthalmic List under regulation 12;

(b) while it waits for a decision affecting that person of a court anywhere in the world, or of a licensing or regulatory body;

(c) while it considers whether to refer that person to the Tribunal;

(d) while it awaits a finding by the Tribunal;

(e) where it has decided to remove that person from its Ophthalmic List but before that decision takes effect.

(2) In a case falling within paragraph (1)(a) or (c), the Board must specify a period, not exceeding six months, as the period of suspension.

(3) In a case falling within paragraph (1)(b), the Board may specify that the ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician (as the case may be) remains suspended after the decision referred to in that paragraph has been made for an additional period, not exceeding six months.

(4) In a case falling within paragraph (1)(d), the term of suspension may exceed six months.

(5) If the Board suspends an ophthalmic medical practitioner or an optician in a case falling within paragraph (1)(e) the suspension has effect from the date the Board informed that person of the suspension.

(6) The Board may extend the period of suspension under paragraph (2) or impose a further period of suspension under paragraph (3), so long as the aggregate period of suspension does not exceed 6 months.

(7) The effect of a suspension is that, while an ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician is suspended under these Regulations, that person is to be treated as not being included in the Ophthalmic List even though that person’s name appears in it.

(8) The Board may at any time revoke the suspension and notify the ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician (as the case may be) of its decision.

(9) Where a Board is considering suspending an ophthalmic medical practitioner or an optician or varying the period of suspension under this regulation, it shall give the ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician (as the case may be)–

(a) notice of any allegation against that person;

(b) notice of what action it is considering and on what grounds; and

(c) the opportunity to put that person’s case at an oral hearing before the Board, on a specified day, provided that at least 24 hours' notice of the hearing is given.

(10) If the ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician (as the case may be) does not wish to have an oral hearing or does not attend the oral hearing, the Board may suspend that person with immediate effect.

(11) If an oral hearing does take place, the Board shall take into account any representations made at the hearing before it reaches its decision.

(12) The Board may suspend the ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician (as the case may be) with immediate effect following the hearing.

(13) The Board shall notify the ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician (as the case may be) of its decision and the reasons for it (including any facts relied upon) within 7 days of making that decision.

(14) During a period of suspension, payments shall be made to or in respect of the ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician (as the case may be) in accordance with regulation 21.

(15) If an ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician (as the case may be) is dissatisfied with a decision of a Board (“the original decision”)–

(a) not to authorise the Agency to make a payment to or in respect of that person pursuant to a determination under regulation 21;

(b) to authorise the Agency to make a payment to or in respect of that person pursuant to a determination under regulation 21, but at a lower level than the level to which the suspended ophthalmic medical practitioner or optician (as the case may be) considers to be correct; or

(c) in respect of recovery of what the Board considers to be an overpayment,

that person may ask the Board to review the original decision and, if that person does so, the Board shall reconsider the original decision, and once it has done so, it must notify that person in writing of the outcome of that reconsideration (“the reconsidered decision”) and give that person notice of the reasons for the reconsidered decision.