Health Services Act 1976

17 Appeals

(1) Where an application for an authorisation is refused or granted by the Board and the decision to refuse or grant it, as the case may be, involves a question of law, then—

(a) if the application is refused, the applicant or, if the applicant was afforded a hearing by the Board, the applicant or any other person who appeared (in person or not) and was heard at the hearing may on that question appeal from the Board's decision to the court; or

(b) if the application is granted in a case in which the applicant was afforded a hearing by the Board, any other person who so appeared and was heard may on that question appeal as aforesaid.

(2) In the preceding subsection " the court" means—

(a) in England and Wales, the High Court;

(b) in Scotland, the Court of Session.

(3) An appeal under this section must be brought before the end of the three months beginning with the date on which the applicant is notified of the Board's decision on his application.

(4) The Board and the Secretary of State and (if he would not be so entitled apart from this subsection) the applicant shall each be entitled to appear and be heard on any appeal under this section.

(5) Rules of court relating to appeals under this section may provide for excluding so much of section 63(1) of the [1925 c. 49.] Supreme Court of Judicature (Consolidation) Act 1925 as requires appeals to the High Court to be heard and determined by a Divisional Court; but no appeal to the Court of Appeal shall be brought by virtue of this section except with the leave of the High Court or the Court of Appeal.

(6) In relation to proceedings in the High Court or the Court of Appeal or the Court of Session brought by virtue of this section the power to make rules of court shall include power to make rules prescribing the powers of the court with respect to—

(a) the giving of any decision which might have been given by the Board on the application;

(b) the remitting of the application, with the court's decision on any question of law decided by it on appeal, for re-hearing and determination by the Board ;

(c) the giving of directions to the Board.

(7) On any appeal brought under or by virtue of this section the court may, if the decision is in favour of the appellant, order the Board (whether or not it appears on the appeal) to pay the costs or, in Scotland, the expenses of the appellant or any other person.

(8) An appeal shall lie, with the leave of the Court of Session or the House of Lords, from any decision of the Court of Session under this section, and such leave may be given on such terms as to costs or otherwise as the Court of Session or the House of Lords may determine.