The Health and Care Professions Council (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Rules Order of Council 2021

Statutory Instruments

2021 No. 27

Health Care And Associated Professions

The Health and Care Professions Council (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Rules Order of Council 2021

Made

12th January 2021

Laid before Parliament

14th January 2021

Laid before the Scottish Parliament

14th January 2021

Coming into force

4th March 2021

At the Council Chamber, Whitehall, the 12th day of January 2021

By the Lords of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council

The Health and Care Professions Council has made the Health and Care Professions Council (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Rules 2021, which are set out in the Schedule to this Order, in exercise of the powers conferred by articles 26(3), 32, 37(4) and (5), and 41(2) of the Health Professions Order 2001 M1.

In accordance with article 41(3) of that Order, the Health and Care Professions Council has consulted representatives of groups of persons who appear likely to be affected by the proposed rules.

In accordance with articles 41(1) and 42 of that Order, the Rules shall not come into force until approved by Order of the Privy Council.

Marginal Citations

M1S.I. 2002/254, amended by S.I. 2009/1182 and S.I. 2019/1436; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.

Citation and commencementU.K.

1.  This Order may be cited as the Health and Care Professions Council (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Rules Order of Council 2021 and comes into force on 4th March 2021.

Commencement Information

I1Art. 1 in force at 4.3.2021, see art. 1

Privy Council approvalU.K.

2.  Their Lordships, having taken the Rules into consideration, are pleased to, and do approve them.

Commencement Information

I2Art. 2 in force at 4.3.2021, see art. 1

Richard Tillbrook

Clerk of the Privy Council

Article 2

SCHEDULEU.K.The Health and Care Professions Council (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Rules 2021

The Health and Care Professions Council makes the following Rules in exercise of the powers conferred by articles 26(3), 32, 37(4) and (5), and 41(2) of the Health Professions Order 2001.

The Council has consulted in accordance with article 41(3) of that Order with representatives of groups of persons who appear likely to be affected by the proposed rules.

Citation and commencementU.K.

1.  These Rules may be cited as the Health and Care Professions Council (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Rules 2021 and come into force on 4th March 2021.

Commencement Information

I3Sch. rule 1 in force at 4.3.2021, see art. 1

Amendments to the Health and Care Professions Council (Investigating Committee) (Procedure) Rules 2003U.K.

2.—(1) The Health and Care Professions Council (Investigating Committee) (Procedure) Rules 2003 M2 are amended as follows.

(2) After rule 2 (interpretation), insert—

“Emergency virtual meetings and hearings

2A.—(1) In an emergency, a meeting or hearing arranged under these Rules may be conducted using audio or video conferencing facilities.

(2) In cases where a meeting or hearing is held in accordance with paragraph (1)—

(a)any notice required to be sent under these Rules giving notice of venue must include details of the audio or video conferencing arrangements required to access the hearing; and

(b)where a hearing is being held by audio or video conferencing, the Committee may order that the hearing is to be held in private.

(3) In this rule, an emergency exists where the Registrar considers that an emergency, as defined in Article 9A(12) of the Order, has occurred, is occurring or is about to occur.”.

(3) For rule 3 (service of documents) substitute—

“Service of Documents

3.  In these Rules a reference to the sending of a notice or other document to any person is a reference to it being—

(a)in the case of the Council, its committees or the Registrar—

(i)sent by post to or left at the offices of the Council, or

(ii)sent by electronic mail to an electronic mail address which the Council has notified to the sender as an address for communications;

(b)in the case of a registrant—

(i)sent by post to or left at the registrant's address as it appears in the register, or

(ii)sent by electronic mail to an electronic mail address which the registrant has notified to the Council as an address for communications;

(c)in any other case—

(i)sent by post to or left at the last known address of that person, or

(ii)sent by electronic mail to an electronic mail address which the person has notified to the Council as an address for communications.”.

[F1(3A) After rule 3 (Service of Documents), insert—

“3A.  Any communications sent for the purposes of these Rules is to be treated as having been sent on the day the communication was posted or sent by electronic mail.”.]

(4) At the beginning of rule 8(1)(a) insert “ subject to rule 2A(2)(b), ”.

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I4Sch. rule 2 in force at 4.3.2021, see art. 1

Marginal Citations

Amendments to the Health and Care Professions Council (Conduct and Competence Committee) (Procedure) Rules 2003U.K.

3.—(1) The Health and Care Professions Council (Conduct and Competence Committee) (Procedure) Rules 2003 M3 are amended as follows.

(2) After rule 2 (interpretation), insert—

“Emergency virtual meetings and hearings

2A.—(1) In an emergency, a meeting or hearing arranged under these Rules may be conducted using audio or video conferencing facilities.

(2) In cases where a meeting or hearing is held in accordance with rule 2A(1)—

(a)any notice required to be sent under these rules giving notice of venue must include details of the audio or video conferencing arrangements required to access the hearing; and

(b)where a hearing is being held by audio or video conferencing, the Committee may order that the hearing is to be held in private.

(3) In this rule, an emergency exists where the Registrar considers that an emergency, as defined in Article 9A(12) of the Order, has occurred, is occurring or is about to occur.”.

(3) For rule 3 (service of documents) substitute—

“Service of Documents

3.  In these Rules a reference to the sending of a notice or other document to any person is a reference to it being—

(a)in the case of the Council, its committees or the Registrar—

(i)sent by post to or left at the offices of the Council, or

(ii)sent by electronic mail to an electronic mail address which the Council has notified to the sender as an address for communications;

(b)in the case of a registrant—

(i)sent by post to or left at the registrant's address as it appears in the register, or

(ii)sent by electronic mail to an electronic mail address which the registrant has notified to the Council as an address for communications; and

(c)in any other case—

(i)sent by post to or left at the last known address of that person, or

(ii)sent by electronic mail to an electronic mail address which the person has notified to the Council as an address for communications.”.

[F2(3A) After rule 3 (Service of Documents), insert—

“3A.  Any communications sent for the purposes of these Rules is to be treated as having been sent on the day the communication was posted or sent by electronic mail.”.]

(4) At the beginning of rule 10(1)(a) insert “ subject to rule 2A(2)(b), ”.

(5) At the beginning of rule 13(10), for “A” substitute “ Subject to rule 2A, a ”.

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I5Sch. rule 3 in force at 4.3.2021, see art. 1

Marginal Citations

Amendments to the Health and Care Professions Council (Health Committee) (Procedure) Rules 2003U.K.

4.—(1) The Health and Care Professions Council (Health Committee) (Procedure) Rules 2003 M4 are amended as follows.

(2) After rule 2 (interpretation), insert—

“Emergency virtual meetings and hearings

2A.—(1) In an emergency, a meeting or hearing arranged under these Rules may be conducted using audio or video conferencing facilities.

(2) In cases where a meeting or hearing is held in accordance with paragraph (1)—

(a)any notice required to be sent under these rules giving notice of venue must include details of the audio or video conferencing arrangements required to access the hearing; and

(b)where a hearing is being held by audio or video conferencing, the Committee may order that the hearing is to be held in private.

(3) In this rule, an emergency exists where the Registrar considers that an emergency, as defined in Article 9A(12) of the Order, has occurred, is occurring or is about to occur.”.

(3) For rule 3 (service of documents) substitute—

“Service of Documents

3.  In these Rules a reference to the sending of a notice or other document to any person is a reference to it being—

(a)in the case of the Council, its committees or the Registrar—

(i)sent by post to or left at the offices of the Council, or

(ii)sent by electronic mail to an electronic mail address which the Council has notified to the sender as an address for communications;

(b)in the case of a registrant—

(i)sent by post to or left at the registrant's address as it appears in the register, or

(ii)sent by electronic mail to an electronic mail address which the registrant has notified to the Council as an address for communications; and

(c)in any other case—

(i)sent by post to or left at the last known address of that person, or

(ii)sent by electronic mail to an electronic mail address which the person has notified to the Council as an address for communications.”

[F3(3A) After rule 3 (Service of Documents), insert—

“3A.  Any communications sent for the purposes of these Rules is to be treated as having been sent on the day the communication was posted or sent by electronic mail.”.]

(4) At the beginning of rule 10(1)(a), insert “ subject to rule 2A(2)(b), ”.

(5) At the beginning of rule 13(10), for “A” substitute “ Subject to rule 2A, a ”.

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I6Sch. rule 4 in force at 4.3.2021, see art. 1

Marginal Citations

Amendments to the Health Professions Council (Registration Appeals) Rules 2003U.K.

5.—(1) The Health Professions Council (Registration Appeals) Rules 2003 M5 are amended as follows.

(2) After rule 2 (interpretation), insert—

“Emergency virtual meetings and hearings

2A.—(1) In an emergency a meeting or hearing arranged under these Rules may be conducted using audio or video conferencing facilities.

(2) In cases where a meeting or hearing is held in accordance with paragraph (1)—

(a)any notice required to be sent under these rules giving notice of venue must include details of the audio or video conferencing arrangements required to access the hearing; and

(b)where a hearing is being held by audio or video conferencing, the Committee may order that the hearing is to be held in private.

(3) In this rule, an emergency exists where the Registrar considers that an emergency, as defined in Article 9A(12) of the Order, has occurred, is occurring or is about to occur.”.

(3) For rule 3 (service of documents) substitute—

“Service of Documents

3.  In these Rules a reference to the sending of a notice or other document to any person is a reference to it being—

(a)in the case of the Council, the Committee, an Appeal Panel or the Registrar—

(i)sent by post to or left at the offices of the Council, or

(ii)sent by electronic mail to an electronic mail address which the Council has notified to the sender as an address for communications;

(b)in the case of the appellant—

(i)sent by post to or left at the address identified in the appellant's notice of appeal, or

(ii)sent by electronic mail to an electronic mail address which the appellant has notified to the Council as an address for communications; and

(c)in any other case—

(i)sent by post to or left at the last known address of that person, or

(ii)sent by electronic mail to an electronic mail address which the person has notified to the Council as an address for communications.”.

[F4(3A) After rule 3 (Service of Documents), insert—

“3A.  Any communications sent for the purposes of these Rules is to be treated as having been sent on the day the communication was posted or sent by electronic mail.”.]

(4) At the beginning of rule 14(1), insert “ subject to rule 2A(2)(b), ”.

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I7Sch. rule 5 in force at 4.3.2021, see art. 1

Marginal Citations

Given under the seal of the Health and Care Professions Council 2nd day of October 2020.

L.S.

Christine Elliott

Chair

John Barwick

Registrar

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order approves Rules made by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). The Rules amend the procedural rules for the HCPC's three Practice Committees, which conduct fitness to practise proceedings, and the procedural rules for its Appeal Panel, which hears appeals against registration decisions.

The amendments to all four sets of procedural rules are in similar form and make two changes. They provide for the service by electronic means of notices and other documents relating to fitness to practise and appeals proceedings and enable the Practice Committees and Appeal Panel to conduct hearings and meetings by audio or video conference in an emergency. The amendments also allow committees to order that hearings and meetings held by audio or video conference are to be held in private.