Directing reviews of substantive orders

When a panel of the Fitness to Practise Committee imposes conditions of practice orders or suspension orders, it will need to decide whether a review is necessary.

Where no review is ordered, the order will expire at the end of its period.

As conditions of practice orders are usually imposed to protect the public from a risk to patients, it is unlikely that the order should be allowed to expire without review by a panel, as they will need to assess if an order is still necessary.

If a finding of impairment is made to promote and maintain public confidence in the professions or proper professional standards and conduct, and the nurse or midwife does not present a current risk to patients, the panel may conclude that a review would serve no purpose, and therefore decide not to require a review.

Panels should always give reasons for their decision.