Interim Orders Hearings: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals
Facing an Interim Orders Hearing? Urgent Specialist Advice
An interim order is a temporary restriction a regulator can place on a healthcare professional's registration while an investigation is ongoing, before any final decision is made. It can suspend you from practice or impose conditions, and is used where a regulator believes it is necessary to protect the public or is in the wider public interest.
Interim orders are imposed early and at short notice, so acting quickly is vital. At Regulation Resolution, we are specialist regulatory defence solicitors, and the majority of our clients keep working or secure a better outcome than they feared. This guide explains what interim orders are, how the different regulators apply them, and how to challenge one. If you need representation now, see our interim orders hearing solicitors page.
What are the types of interim order?
There are two types of interim order. An interim suspension order stops you practising altogether while the investigation continues, and an interim conditions of practice order lets you keep working but only within specified restrictions, such as supervision or limits on your role. A regulator must choose the least restrictive option that still protects the public.
Whichever type applies to you, an interim order is not a finding of wrongdoing and does not decide your case. It is a precautionary measure, which is why well-prepared representations at the hearing can make a real difference to whether an order is imposed and how restrictive it is.
How do interim orders work at each regulator?
Each regulator uses a dedicated panel to decide interim orders, but the framework is broadly similar: an interim order can last for a maximum of 18 months and must be reviewed regularly. The table below summarises how the main healthcare regulators handle interim orders.
| Regulator | Who decides the interim order | Maximum length and review interval |
|---|---|---|
| GMC / MPTS (doctors) | Interim Orders Tribunal (IOT), run by the MPTS | Maximum 18 months (section 41A, Medical Act 1983). First review within 6 months, then at least every 6 months; you can request an early review after 3 months, or sooner if new relevant evidence arises. Extension beyond 18 months requires the GMC to apply to the court. |
| NMC (nurses, midwives, nursing associates) | Interim Orders panel of the Fitness to Practise Committee | Maximum 18 months (Article 31, Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001). Reviewed within 6 months, then at least every 6 months, with an earlier review where new relevant evidence arises. Extension beyond 18 months requires a court application, which the court may grant for up to a further 12 months. |
| HCPC (allied health professionals) | Interim Orders panel | Maximum 18 months (Health Professions Order 2001). Reviewed 6 months after the order is made, then every 3 months thereafter. The High Court can extend the order by up to a further 12 months. |
| GDC (dental professionals) | Interim Orders Committee | Maximum 18 months (section 32, Dentists Act 1984). First review within 6 months, then at least every 6 months, with an earlier review available on request after 3 months. The court may extend the order by up to a further 12 months. |
An interim order can only be extended beyond 18 months by application to the court. Because each review is an opportunity to have an order lifted or relaxed, ongoing representation throughout the investigation is important.
How can I challenge an interim order?
You can challenge an interim order in three main ways: by making strong representations at the initial hearing, by asking for the order to be revoked or relaxed at a review, and by applying to the High Court (or Court of Session in Scotland) to terminate or vary it. The court can end an order it considers unjustified.
The most effective challenge is usually the earliest one, so being properly represented at the first interim orders hearing is critical. Our interim orders hearing solicitors act at short notice to argue that an order is unnecessary or disproportionate, or that conditions would be enough to protect the public.
How long does an interim order last?
An interim order can last up to 18 months and must be reviewed regularly, usually at least every six months. Reviews are held sooner if there is a significant change in your circumstances or new information. If the regulator wants to keep an order in place beyond 18 months, it must apply to the court for an extension.
An interim order ends when the investigation concludes without further action, when a review or the court removes it, or when a final fitness to practise decision replaces it. Each review is a genuine opportunity to argue that the order should be lifted or relaxed.
At an interim orders hearing, a panel considers whether an interim order is necessary to protect the public, is in the public interest, or is in your own interests, before any final decision on your case. The panel hears from the regulator and from you or your representative, then decides whether to impose no order, conditions, or a suspension.
The hearing does not decide the truth of the allegations. Instead, the panel weighs the risk while the investigation continues. You can attend, be represented and put forward evidence and submissions, which is why early legal advice is so valuable at this stage.
Interim order or final sanction: what is the difference?
An interim order is temporary and precautionary, imposed while a case is investigated, whereas a final sanction is the outcome of a concluded fitness to practise hearing after the allegations have been decided. An interim order does not determine your case or find the allegations proved; it simply manages risk in the meantime.
Because an interim order is not the final word, engaging early and at every review gives you the best chance of protecting your ability to keep working while your case is resolved.
Interim orders: your questions answered
What is an interim order?
An interim order is a temporary restriction a regulator places on a professional's registration while an investigation continues, before any final decision. It can suspend you or impose conditions, and is used where necessary to protect the public or in the public interest.
What is an interim suspension order?
An interim suspension order is a type of interim order that stops a professional practising altogether while an investigation is ongoing. It is the most restrictive interim measure and is used only where conditions would not be enough to protect the public.
How long does an interim order last?
An interim order can last up to 18 months and must be reviewed regularly, usually at least every six months. To keep an order in place beyond 18 months, the regulator must apply to the court for an extension.
Can I challenge an interim order?
Yes. You can make representations at the initial hearing, ask for the order to be revoked or relaxed at a review, and apply to the High Court to terminate or vary it. Early, specialist representation gives the best chance of success.
Does an interim order mean I am guilty?
No. An interim order is not a finding of wrongdoing and does not decide your case. It is a precautionary measure imposed while the investigation continues, and the panel does not rule on the truth of the allegations at this stage.
Which regulators can impose interim orders?
The GMC (through the MPTS), NMC, HCPC, GDC and other healthcare regulators can all impose interim orders through dedicated interim orders panels or tribunals, following broadly similar rules on duration and review.
Facing an interim orders hearing? Talk to us now
Written by Jonathan Meadows, Solicitor and Managing Director. Reviewed July 2026.
We take a proactive, strategic approach to interim orders hearings, acting quickly to protect your ability to keep working while your case is investigated. As specialist regulatory defence solicitors, we represent professionals before every major regulator, and the majority of our clients keep working or secure a better outcome than they feared.
Every case is different, so we build a tailored strategy around your circumstances - never a template.
Interim orders are decided quickly and at short notice, so if you have been notified of a hearing, the time to act is now.
Contact Regulation Resolution today for a confidential consultation and let us protect your registration, your reputation and your career. For urgent representation, see our interim orders hearing solicitors.
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