149Preliminary assessment

149 Preliminary assessment (1) A National Board must, within 60 days after receipt of a notification, conduct a preliminary assessment of the notification and decide— (a) whether or not the notification relates to a person who is a health practitioner or a student registered in a health profession for which the Board is established; and (b) whether or not the notification relates to a matter that is a ground for notification; and (c) if the notification is a notification referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b), whether or not it is a notification that could also be made to a health complaints entity. (2) Without limiting subsection (1) (b), the National Board may decide the notification relates to a matter that is a ground for notification under section 144 on the basis of— (a) a single notification about a person; or (b) a number of notifications about a person including— (i) a number of notifications that suggest a pattern of conduct; and (ii) notifications made to a health complaints entity.

(3) If the National Board decides the notification relates to a person who is not registered in a health profession for which the Board is established but the Board reasonably suspects the person is registered in a health profession for which another National Board is established, the Board must refer the notification to that other Board.