Family Practitioner Services Independent Appeal Panel

The Health and Social Care (Family Practitioner Services Independent Appeal Panel) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (“the FPSIAP Regulations”) came into operation on 1 April 2022 and can be accessed via: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/en/nisr/2022/109/made

The FPSIAP Regulations provided for the establishment of the Family Practitioner Services Independent Appeal Panel (FPSIAP). The FPSIAP is an independent panel with statutory responsibility for the determination of a range of appeals, applications and referrals in relation to Family Practitioner Services—including General Practice, Dentistry, Community Pharmacy and Ophthalmic Services.

Further details are set out in the FPSIAP Regulations and in the regulations under which the appeal, application and referral is made to the FPSIAP, including:

• Health and Personal Social Services General Dental Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993
• The Health and Personal Social Services (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004
• The Health and Personal Social Services (Primary Medical Services Performers Lists) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004
• General Ophthalmic Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007
• The Health and Social Care (Disciplinary Procedures) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016
• The Pharmaceutical Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997

FPSIAP - Remit for Community Pharmacy Appeals

Appeals against decisions made by the Department of Health in respect of requests to change the contracted hours in which pharmaceutical services are being provided by a pharmacy contractor fall within the remit of the FPSIAP— as per paragraph 4 of Part II of Schedule 2 of the Pharmaceutical Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997.

However, the National Appeal Panel (NAP) will continue to be responsible for appeals where the pharmacy related decision being appealed was made by the Pharmacy Practices Committee (PPC) as per schedule 4 to the Pharmaceutical Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997. On receipt of a notice of appeal related to community pharmacy, the secretariat will ensure that it is shared with the Chairperson of the appropriate panel (FPSIAP or NAP) in line with the relevant regulations.

FPSIAP Secretariat Contact Details

Notices of appeal, applications or referrals to the FPSIAP should be sent to the FPSIAP secretariat at the email address below, in the required format and within the timeframe specified in the regulations under which the appeal, application or referral is being made.

Email: appealpanels@health-ni.gov.uk

Address: FPSIAP Secretariat, Governance Unit, Room D3, Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate, Belfast. BT4 3SQ.

Telephone: 028 9037 8694