570Conduct of service providers

570 Conduct of service providers

(1) This section applies if the Authority is concerned about the adequacy, appropriateness or frequency of any professional service provided by a person (the relevant service).

(2) If there is a relevant body responsible for regulating conduct of persons in the trade or profession of the person who provided the relevant service, the Authority—

(a) may notify the relevant body of, or refer to the relevant body for investigation or review, the conduct of the person in accordance with the relevant law and its rules and regulations, together with relevant matters of which the Authority is aware pertaining to that conduct; and

(b) until the relevant body has investigated or reviewed the conduct, may, by notice in writing given to the person, determine to suspend the payment of costs of the relevant services provided by that person, including the payment of costs of the relevant services provided before the notice is given; and

(c) if it gives a notice under paragraph (b), must give a copy of the notice to each self-insurer.

(3) If there is not a body responsible for regulating conduct of a person in the trade or profession of the person who provided the relevant services the Authority, by notice in writing given to the person, may do any one or more of the following—

(a) warn the person that the Authority is concerned about the person's conduct and, if it continues, the Authority may, by further notice in writing given to the person, suspend payment of costs of the relevant services provided by that person;

(b) determine to review the person's conduct;

(c) suspend payment of costs of professional services provided by the person until it has completed its review.

(4) A suspension of payment of costs under subsection (2) or (3) continues in force until—

(a) the conduct of the person has been reviewed under subsection (2) or (3); or

(b) the expiry of—

(i) in the case of a suspension under subsection (2), the period of 6 months after the notice of suspension is given or, if that period is extended, that period as so extended; or

(ii) in the case of a suspension under subsection (3), the period of 6 months after the notice of suspension is given under that subsection—

(5) If, following a review of which notice is given under subsection (3)(b), the Authority considers—

(a) that the person, in providing the relevant service, has acted in an unreasonable or unprofessional manner; or

(b) that the ability of the person to practise is affected because of the person's physical or mental health or the person's incapacity; or