Health and Social Care Act 2001

NHS contracts and financial provisions

33 NHS contracts

(1) In the case of a pilot scheme entered into, or to be entered into, by a single individual or body corporate, that individual or body may make an application under this section to become a health service body.

(2) In the case of any other pilot scheme, all of those providing, or proposing to provide, piloted services under the scheme may together make an application under this section to become a single health service body.

(3) An application must—

(a) be made to the relevant authority in accordance with such provisions as may be made by regulations; and

(b) specify the pilot scheme in relation to which it is made.

(4) Except in such cases as may be prescribed by regulations, the relevant authority may grant an application.

(5) If an application is granted, the relevant authority must specify a date in relation to that application and, as from that date—

(a) in the case of an application under subsection (1), the applicant is, and

(b) in the case of an application under subsection (2), the applicants together are,

a health service body for the purposes of section 4 of the 1990 Act (NHS contracts).

(6) That section has effect in relation to such a health service body (“a PHS body”), acting as acquirer, as if the functions referred to in subsection (1) of that section were the provision of piloted services.

(7) Except in such circumstances as may be prescribed by regulations, a PHS body resulting from an application under subsection (2) is to be treated, at any time, as consisting of those who are providing piloted services under the scheme.

(8) A direction as to payment made under section 4(7) of the 1990 Act against, or in favour of, a PHS body is enforceable in a county court (if the court so orders) as if it were a judgment or order of that court.

(9) Regulations may provide for a PHS body to cease to be a PHS body in prescribed circumstances.

(10) The relevant authority must—

(a) maintain and publish a list of PHS bodies;

(b) publish a revised copy of the list as soon as is reasonably practicable after any change is made to it.

(11) The list is to be published in such manner as the relevant authority considers appropriate.

34 Funding of preparatory work

(1) Provision may be made by regulations for Health Authorities to make payments of financial assistance for preparatory work.

(2) “Preparatory work” means work which it is reasonable for a person to undertake—

(a) in connection with preparing proposals for a pilot scheme; or

(b) in preparing for the provision by him of any piloted services.

(3) The regulations may, in particular, include provision—

(a) prescribing the circumstances in which payments of financial assistance may be made;

(b) imposing a limit on the amount of any payment of financial assistance which a Health Authority may make in any prescribed period in respect of any one person or any one pilot scheme;

(c) imposing a limit on the aggregate amount which a Health Authority may pay by way of financial assistance in any one financial year;

(d) requiring a person to whom assistance is given under this section to comply with such conditions as may be imposed in accordance with prescribed requirements; and

(e) for repayment in the case of a failure to comply with any condition so imposed.

35 Charges, recovery of payments and penalties

(1) Regulations may provide for the making and recovery, in such manner as may be prescribed, of charges for local pharmaceutical services.

(2) The regulations may, in particular provide for—

(a) exemptions from charges;

(b) the liability to pay charges to be disregarded in prescribed circumstances or for prescribed purposes;

(c) section 122A of the 1977 Act (recovery of certain charges and payments) to apply also in relation to local pharmaceutical services (with or without modification);

(d) section 122B of the 1977 Act (penalties) to apply also in relation to local pharmaceutical services (with or without modification).

(3) The regulations must secure that the amount charged for any service is the same as the amount that would be charged for that service if it were provided under Part 2 of the 1977 Act.