31Immediate suspension of non-emergency patient transport service licence where serious risk to health or safety

31 Immediate suspension of non-emergency patient transport service licence where serious risk to health or safety

(1) The Secretary may immediately suspend a non‑emergency patient transport service licence as to all or any classes of non‑emergency patient transport specified in the licence if the Secretary reasonably believes the licence holder is providing the service in a manner that poses a serious risk to patient health or safety.

(2) As soon as the Secretary suspends the licence the Secretary must give notice of the suspension to the holder of the licence.

(3) A notice under subsection (2) must set out—

(a) the reason for the suspension; and

(b) whether the licence has been fully or partly suspended and if the licence has been partly suspended, the class or classes of non‑emergency patient transport for which the licence has been suspended; and

(c) the period of the suspension, which must be not more than 6 months; and

(d) that the licence holder may, within 30 days after the notice is given, give the Secretary a written response to the proposed suspension.

(4) If a non-emergency patient transport service licence is suspended in respect of a class or classes of non-emergency patient transport specified in the licence, but not all of the classes of transport so specified, the licence continues to authorise the provision of the class or classes of transport in respect of which the licence has not been suspended.

S. 32 substituted by No. 29/2021 s. 22.