28 October 2021
From 1 November 2021, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service will implement changes to the way in which Interim Orders Tribunal reviews are listed.
At present, the MPTS sets a hearing date for all IOT cases that are due for review and the doctor and their representatives receive notice of the hearing date.
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Cara Docherty |
However, there often follows a discussion between the parties as to whether the review can be dealt with on the papers rather than attending a hearing. A review on the papers might be appropriate where there is certainly about the outcome of the review, for example, the interim conditions will be continued and there is no risk of suspension.
The MPTS has advised that up to 70% of hearing dates are cancelled and replaced with a review on the papers, which would tend to take place at an earlier date.
With this in mind, the MPTS will now schedule review hearings only in cases where the parties have agreed that a hearing is required. The aim is to make the listing process more efficient and give more certainty to doctors.
This means that parties will have to give thought, in every case, to whether a review on the papers is appropriate and, if it is not, engage with the MPTS to make arrangements for a hearing.
If you have any queries about this or other regulatory matters, please contact BTO’s Professional Discipline and Clinical Defence team.
Cara Docherty, Associate: cdo@bto.co.uk / 0141 221 8012