National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1972

PART IV Co-operation with Local Authorities, etc.

20 Co-operation between Health Boards and local authorities

In exercising their respective functions, Health Boards, local authorities and education authorities shall co-operate with one another in order to secure and advance the health of the people of Scotland.

21 Designated medical officers

(1) Every Health Board shall, in accordance with regulations, designate a medical officer or officers of the Board for the purpose of exercising such functions on behalf of local authorities as may be assigned to him by or under any enactment and such other functions as local authorities may, with the agreement of the Health Board, assign to him.

(2) Any such medical officer shall, in any enactment, be known as the " designated medical officer ".

(3) A designated medical officer may exercise any powers conferred by any enactment on an authorised officer of a local authority if the local authority authorises him in writing so to do.

(4) A designated medical officer may appoint one or more persons approved by the Board to act as his depute or deputes, and all things required or authorised by law to be done by or to the designated medical officer may be done by or to any depute so appointed by him, and any reference in any enactment or instrument made under any enactment to the designated medical officer shall, where the depute is acting for the officer, include a reference to the depute.

22 Supply of goods and services to local authorities, etc.

(1) The Secretary of State, a Health Board or the Agency may—

(a) purchase and store and, on such terms and conditions as may be agreed, supply to persons providing general medical, general dental, pharmaceutical or general ophthalmic services under Part IV of the Act of 1947, such equipment, goods or materials as may be prescribed;

(b) purchase and store and, on such terms and conditions as may be agreed, supply to local authorities, education authorities, government departments and such public bodies or classes of public bodies as may be determined by the Secretary of State, any equipment, goods or materials of a kind used in the health service ;

(c) provide local authorities and education authorities, on such terms and conditions as may be agreed, with any administrative, professional or other services of persons employed by the Secretary of State, a Health Board or the Agency;

(d) permit local authorities and education authorities, on such terms and conditions as may be agreed, to use premises occupied for the purposes of the health service;

(e) permit local authorities and education authorities, on such terms and conditions as may be agreed, to use any vehicle, plant or apparatus belonging to a Health Board or the Agency ;

(f) permit education authorities, on such terms and conditions as may be agreed, and for the purpose of providing special education within the meaning of section 5 of the [1962 c. 47.] Education (Scotland) Act 1962, to use any premises or facilities provided under section 2 of this Act;

(g) carry out, on such terms and conditions as may be agreed, maintenance work in connection with land or buildings for the maintenance of which a local authority or education authority is responsible.

(2) In paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) above, the power to supply equipment, goods and materials includes a power to make arrangements with third parties for the supply by them of those things.

23 Assistance to voluntary organisations

(1) The Secretary of State may assist any voluntary organisation whose activities include the provision of a service similar or related to a service provided under the Health Service Acts by permitting them to use premises belonging to him on such terms as may be agreed, and by making available goods, materials, vehicles or equipment (whether by way of gift, loan or otherwise) and the services of any staff who are employed in connection with the premises or other things which he permits the organisation to use.

(2) In this section, "voluntary organisation " means a body the activities of which are carried on otherwise than for profit, but does not include any public or local authority.