Health and Social Care Act 2008

104 Clinical and other specialist advisers

(1) The OHPA may appoint, or arrange for the appointment of, persons to be clinical advisers.

(2) Any clinical advisers are appointed for the purpose of giving advice to the OHPA’s fitness to practise panels on issues relating to health that arise in proceedings before them.

(3) The OHPA may also appoint, or arrange for the appointment of, persons to act as specialist advisers on issues on which the OHPA considers that specialist knowledge is required.

(4) Any specialist advisers are appointed for the purpose of giving advice to the OHPA’s fitness to practise panels on issues falling within the advisers' speciality arising in proceedings before them.

(5) To be eligible for appointment as a clinical adviser or specialist adviser a person must have such qualifications and satisfy such other conditions as are specified by rules.

(6) An adviser appointed under subsection (1) or (3)—

(a) may be appointed either generally or for any particular proceedings or class of proceedings, and

(b) holds and vacates office in accordance with the terms of the adviser’s appointment.

(7) The OHPA may pay such fees, allowances and expenses to an adviser appointed under subsection (1) or (3) as it may determine.

(8) Rules may make provision about the functions of advisers appointed under subsection (1) or (3).

(9) In this section “rules” means rules made by the OHPA.