- Latest available (Revised)
- Original (As enacted)
National Health Service Act 1977
You are here:
What Version
Advanced Features
- Show Geographical Extent(e.g. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)
- Show Timeline of Changes
Opening Options
More Resources
Changes over time for: Section 23
Changes to legislation:
There are outstanding changes not yet made by the legislation.gov.uk editorial team to National Health Service Act 1977. Any changes that have already been made by the team appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 23:
- s. 23(4) omitted by S.I. 2006/1407 Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 10
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
- Act modified by 2003 c. 43 Sch. 7 para. 3(7)
- Act repealed by 2006 c. 43 Sch. 4
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- s. 3(4) inserted by 2003 c. 43 Sch. 11 para. 8
- s. 3(4)(a) words substituted by 2006 c. 28 Sch. 8 para. 7(4)(a)
- s. 3(4)(b) modified by S.I. 2004/865 art. 109(2)(a)
- s. 3(4)(b) words substituted by 2006 c. 28 Sch. 8 para. 7(4)(b)
- s. 8(9) (10) added by 2006 c. 28 s. 74(1)
- s. 11(4A) (4B) inserted by 2006 c. 28 s. 74(2)(a)
- s. 16B(4) inserted by 2003 c. 43 s. 182(1)
- s. 16BC(4) inserted by 2003 c. 43 s. 182(2)
- s. 16CA and heading inserted by 2003 c. 43 s. 170
- s. 16CB inserted by 2003 c. 43 s. 171(1)
- s. 16CC inserted by 2003 c. 43 s. 174
- s. 16CD 16CE inserted by 2006 c. 28 s. 37
- s. 19A(2)(aa) inserted by 2003 c. 43 Sch. 9 para. 9
- s. 20A inserted by 2003 c. 4 s. 1(1)
- s. 21(4) inserted by S.I. 2006/1407 Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 9
- s. 22(1A)(e) inserted by 2003 c. 43 Sch. 4 para. 25
- s. 28D(1)(b)-(bc) substituted for s. 28D(1)(b)(c) by 2003 c. 43 s. 177(2)
- s. 28D(1)(bc)(i) modified by S.I. 2004/865 art. 109(2)(a)
- s. 28D(1)(bc)(iii) words substituted by S.I. 2004/957 Sch. para. 3
- s. 28D(1A) inserted by 2003 c. 43 s. 177(3)
- s. 28E(3)(ca) inserted by 2003 c. 43 s. 177(7)
- s. 28E(3A) (3B) inserted by 2003 c. 43 s. 177(8)
- s. 28E(3C) inserted by 2003 c. 43 s. 177(9)
- s. 28E(3D) inserted by 2003 c. 43 s. 177(10)
- s. 28E(3E) (3F) inserted by 2003 c. 43 s. 177(11)
- s. 28K-28P and heading inserted by 2003 c. 43 s. 172(1)
- s. 28M(4) words substituted by S.I. 2006/1407 Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 16
- s. 28Q-28W and heading(s) inserted by 2003 c. 43 s. 175(1)
- s. 28W(5) applied by S.I. 2004/478 reg. 100(3)
- s. 28W(5) applied by S.I. 2004/478 Sch. 6 para. 100(3)
- s. 28X applied (with modifications) by S.I. 2006/552 Sch. 1 para. 4
- s. 28X inserted by 2003 c. 43 s. 179(1)
- s. 28X heading words substituted by 2006 c. 28 s. 39(5)
- s. 28X(1A) inserted by S.I. 2006/1407 Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 17(a)
- s. 28X(2A) inserted by 2006 c. 28 s. 39(2)
- s. 28X(3)(b) words substituted by 2006 c. 28 s. 39(3)
- s. 28X(3)(c) added by S.I. 2006/1407 Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 17(b)
- s. 28X(6A) inserted by 2006 c. 28 s. 39(4)
- s. 28Y inserted by 2003 c. 43 s. 180
- s. 28Y(1) applied (with modifications) by S.I. 2006/552 Sch. 1 para. 5
- s. 28Y(1)(a) substituted by 2006 c. 28 s. 40(2)
- s. 28Y(1)(b) words substituted by 2006 c. 28 s. 40(3)
- s. 28Y(1)(c) added by S.I. 2006/1407 Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 18
- s. 28WA-28WF and cross-heading inserted by 2006 c. 28 s. 38
- s. 29-34A repealed by 2003 c. 43 s. 175(2) Sch. 14 Pt. 4
- s. 34A inserted by 1997 c. 46 s. 25(1) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S. 25(1) repealed (1.4.2004) without ever being in force by Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (c. 43), s. 199(1)(4), Sch. 14 Pt. 4 Note; S.I. 2004/288, art. 6(2)(p) (with art. 8) (as amended by S.I. 2004/866 and S.I. 2005/2925); S.I. 2004/480, art. 5(2)(p) (with arts. 6, 7) (as amended by S.I. 2004/1019 and S.I. 2006/345))
- s. 35(3)-(3B) substituted for s. 35(3) by S.I. 2005/2011 Sch. 6 para. 1(2)(a) (This amendment comes into force on a day to be specified in the London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazettes (see, for example, the London Gazette, issue nos. 57734, 57975, 58050 and 58769, dated respectively 19.8.2005, 5.6.2006, 21.7.2006 and 18.7.2008))
- s. 42(2A) inserted by 2001 c. 15 s. 40(3)
- s. 42(2B) (2C) inserted by 2006 c. 28 s. 35
- s. 42A 42B inserted by 2006 c. 28 s. 34(1)
- s. 43(4)(5) added by 1997 c. 19 Sch. para. 6 (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. 1997 c. 19 repealed (30.3.2007) by S.I. 2007/289, art. 1(2)(3), Sch. 1 para. 6; commencing date as notified in The Gazette, published 23.3.2007)
- s. 43A inserted by 1984 c. 48 s. 7(1) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S. 7(1) repealed (1.3.2007 immediately before the National Health Service Act 2006 comes into force) without ever being in force by National Health Service (Pre - consolidation Amendments) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1407), art. 1(1), Sch. 2 (with art. 4))
- s. 43A 43B substituted by 1999 c. 8 s. 10(1)(2) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S. 10 repealed (1.3.2007) without ever being in force by National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 43), ss. 6, 8(2), Sch. 4 (with Sch. 2 Pt. 1))
- s. 43A 43B substituted by S.I. 2006/1407 Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 19
- s. 43A(3) repealed by 1997 c. 46 Sch. 2 para. 77 Sch. 3 Pt. 2 (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. Sch. 2 para. 77 repealed (E.W.) (1.3.2007 immediately before the National Health Service Act 2006 comes into force) without ever being in force by The National Health Service (Pre-consolidation Amendments) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1407), art. 1(1), Sch. 2 (with art. 4))
- s. 43B added by 1984 c. 48 s. 7(3) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S. 7(3) repealed to the extent that it inserts section 43B of the National Health Service Act 1977 (1.3.2007 immediately before the National Health Service Act 2006 comes into force) without that amendment ever being in force by National Health Service (Pre - consolidation Amendments) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1407), art. 1(1), Sch. 2 (with art. 4))
- s. 44(3A) inserted by S.I. 2006/1407 Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 20(c)
- s. 45A 45B inserted by 2003 c. 43 Sch. 11 para. 23
- s. 45A(3) modified by S.I. 2004/865 art. 109(2)(a)
- s. 45A(3)(a) word repealed by 2006 c. 28 Sch. 8 para. 17(2) Sch. 9
- s. 45A(3)(aa) inserted by 2006 c. 28 Sch. 8 para. 17(2)
- s. 45A(4) modified by S.I. 2004/865 art. 109(2)(a)
- s. 45A(4)(a) substituted by 2006 c. 28 Sch. 8 para. 17(3)
- s. 45A(11) modified by S.I. 2004/865 art. 109(2)(a)
- s. 45C inserted by 2006 c. 28 s. 41
- s. 46-46C substituted for s. 46 by 1999 c. 8 s. 40(1) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S. 40 repealed by 2001 c. 15, ss. 67, 70(2), Sch. 6 Pt. 1 (with ss. 64(a), 65(4)), the repeal coming into force immediately before the coming into force of the National Health Service Act 2006 (c. 41) (as to which see s. 227 of that 2006 Act) by virtue of The National Health Service (Pre-consolidation Amendments) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1407), arts. 1(1), 2, Sch. 1 Pt. 2 para. 8(c))
- s. 54(1)(c) and word(s) inserted by 2003 c. 43 Sch. 11 para. 26(2)(c)
- s. 54(1)(c) modified by S.I. 2004/865 art. 109(2)(a)
- s. 72(5)(d) and word(s) inserted by 2003 c. 43 Sch. 11 para. 27(2)
- s. 72(5)(d) modified by S.I. 2004/865 art. 109(2)(a)
- s. 72(5)(d) words substituted by 2006 c. 28 Sch. 8 para. 21(b)(i)
- s. 72(5)(d) words substituted by 2006 c. 28 Sch. 8 para. 21(b)(ii)
- s. 77(4) inserted by 2003 c. 43 Sch. 11 para. 28
- s. 78A inserted by 1997 c. 46 s. 26(1) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S. 26(1) repealed (1.3.2007) without ever being in force by National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 43), s. 8(2), Sch. 4 (with Sch. 2 Pt. 1 Sch. 3 Pt. 1))
- s. 79(5)(b) modified by 2003 c. 43 s. 183(4)
- s. 96(4) added by S.I. 2006/1407 Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 27
- s. 96A(12) inserted by 2003 c. 43 Sch. 4 para. 37
- s. 98(1A)-(1C) inserted by S.I. 2003/1324 Sch. 2 para. 1(2)
- s. 98(1A) substituted by S.I. 2004/1714 Sch. 2 para. 1(2)
- s. 98(1A)(e) inserted by S.I. 2006/960 Sch. 2 para. 1(2)
- s. 98(1C) words inserted by S.I. 2004/1714 Sch. 2 para. 1(4)
- s. 98(1C) words substituted by S.I. 2006/960 Sch. 2 para. 1(4)
- s. 98(1D) inserted by 2004 c. 23 Sch. 2 para. 2
- s. 98(1BA)(1BB) inserted by S.I. 2004/1714 Sch. 2 para. 1(3)
- s. 98(1BC) inserted by S.I. 2006/960 Sch. 2 para. 1(3)
- s. 98(4A) inserted by S.I. 2003/1324 Sch. 2 para. 1(4)
- s. 98(7)-(10) inserted by S.I. 2005/1074 art. 2(2)
- s. 103(4)(5) inserted by 2001 c. 15 Sch. 5 para. 5(12)(c) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. Sch. 5 para. 5(12)(c) repealed (1.3.2007) without ever being in force by 2006 c. 43, s. 8(2), Sch. 4 (with Sch. 2 Pt. 1, Sch. 3 Pt. 1))
- s. 124A(3)(aa) inserted by 2002 c. 38 Sch. 3 para. 20
- s. 126(1A) inserted by 2003 c. 43 s. 183(3)(b)
- s. 126(4A) inserted by 2001 c. 15 Sch. 5 para. 5(13)(c) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. Sch. 5 para. 5(13)(c) repealed (1.3.2007) without ever being in force by 2006 c. 43, s. 8(2), Sch. 4 (with Sch. 2 Pt. 1, Sch. 3 Pt. 1))
- s. 126(4A) inserted by 2003 c. 4 s. 1(2)
- Sch. 5 para. 12B inserted by S.I. 2006/1407 Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 39(c)
- Sch. 5 para. 10(2A)-(2C) substituted for Sch. 5 para. 10(2A) by S.I. 2005/2011 Sch. 6 para. 1(4) (This amendment comes into force on a day to be specified in the London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazettes (see, for example, the London Gazette, issue nos. 57734, 57975, 58050 and 58769, dated respectively 19.8.2005, 5.6.2006, 21.7.2006 and 18.7.2008))
- Sch. 5A para. 20(1A) inserted by 2006 c. 28 s. 74(3)
- Sch. 5B para. 19(1A) inserted by 2006 c. 28 s. 74(4)
- Sch. 7A inserted by 2003 c. 4 s. 1(3) Sch. 1
- Sch. 7A para. 3(1)(fa) inserted by 2003 c. 43 Sch. 11 para. 40(2)(a)
- Sch. 7A para. 3(1)(g) words repealed by 2003 c. 43 Sch. 11 para. 40(2)(b) Sch. 14 Pt. 4
- Sch. 7A para. 3(2) words substituted by 2003 c. 43 Sch. 11 para. 40(3)
- Sch. 9A para. 10(a)(aa) substituted for s. Sch. 9A para. 10(a) by 2003 c. 43 Sch. 11 para. 42(4)(b)
- Sch. 9A para. 6(d)(i)(ii) substituted for words in para. 6(d) by S.I. 2006/1407 Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 40(b)
- Sch. 11 para. 5A inserted by S.I. 2004/3363 art. 7
- Sch. 12 para. 2A(6) added by S.I. 2006/1407 Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 42(g)
- Sch. 12 para. 2B amendment to earlier affecting provision 2006 c. 28, s. 41(3) by S.I. 2006/1407 Sch. 1 Pt. 2 para. 15 (The earlier affecting provision cited is incorrect. The correct provision should be s. 42(3).)
- Sch. 12 para. 2B inserted by 2006 c. 28 s. 42(3)
- Sch. 12 para. 2A(1)(b) (ba) substituted for Sch. 12 para. 2A(1)(b) by 2006 c. 28 s. 42(2)(a)
- Sch. 12A para. 7(4) inserted by 2001 c. 15 Sch. 5 para. 5(17)(c)
- Sch. 12B inserted by 2006 c. 28 s. 56(2) Sch. 3
- Sch. 12ZA inserted by 2003 c. 43 s. 183(2)
Commencement Orders yet to be applied to the National Health Service Act 1977
Commencement Orders bringing legislation that affects this Act into force:
- S.I. 2003/53 art. 2-4 commences (2001 c. 15)
- S.I. 2003/713 art. 2 commences (2001 c. 15)
- S.I. 2003/833 art. 2 3 commences (2002 c. 17)
- S.I. 2003/2245 art. 2 commences (2001 c. 15)
- S.I. 2003/2246 art. 2 commences (2002 c. 17)
- S.I. 2003/2660 art. 2-4 commences (2003 c. 4)
- S.I. 2003/3064 art. 2 commences (2003 c. 4)
- S.I. 2003/3083 art. 2 commences (2002 c. 17)
- S.I. 2003/3346 art. 2-5 commences (2003 c. 43)
- S.I. 2004/103 art. 2-4 commences (2001 c. 15)
- S.I. 2004/287 art. 2 3 commences (1997 c. 46)
- S.I. 2004/288 art. 2-6 commences (2003 c. 43)
- S.I. 2004/289 art. 2 commences (1998 c. 8)
- S.I. 2004/480 art. 2-5 commences (2003 c. 43)
- S.I. 2004/759 art. 2-13 commences (2003 c. 43)
- S.I. 2004/874 art. 2 commences (2003 c. 42)
- S.I. 2004/1009 art. 2 commences (2003 c. 43)
- S.I. 2004/1019 art. 2 commences (2003 c. 43)
- S.I. 2004/1859 art. 2-6 commences (1999 c. 8)
- S.I. 2004/2626 art. 2 commences (2003 c. 43)
- S.I. 2005/457 art. 2 commences (2003 c. 43)
- S.I. 2005/558 art. 2 Sch. 1 commences (2004 c. 23)
- S.I. 2005/1432 art. 2 commences (2005 c. 12)
- S.I. 2005/2213 art. 2 3 commences (2002 c. 38)
- S.I. 2005/2800 art. 3-5 commences (2005 c. 10)
- S.I. 2005/2897 art. 2 commences (2002 c. 38)
- S.I. 2005/2925 art. 2 4-11 commences (2003 c. 43)
- S.I. 2005/2926 art. 2 3 commences (1997 c. 46)
- S.I. 2006/345 art. 2-7 commences (2003 c. 43)
- S.I. 2006/481 art. 2 3 commences (2001 c. 15)
- S.I. 2006/1014 art. 2 Sch. 1 2 commences (2005 c. 4)
- S.I. 2006/1407 Sch. 1 Pt. 2 para. 3 6 8 12 13 commences (1997 c. 46)
- S.I. 2006/2603 art. 2-5 commences (2006 c. 28)
- S.I. 2006/3125 art. 2-4 commences (2006 c. 28)
- S.I. 2007/204 art. 2-4 commences (2006 c. 28)
- S.I. 2008/1972 art. 2 commences (2006 c. 28)
23 Voluntary organisations and other bodies.E+W+S
(1)The Secretary of State may, where he considers it appropriate, arrange with any person or body (including a voluntary organisation) for that person or body to provide, or assist in providing, any service under this Act.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1
(2)The Secretary of State may make available—
(a)to any person or body (including a voluntary organisation) carrying out any arrangements under subsection (1) above, or
(b)to any voluntary organisation eligible for assistance under section 64 or section 65 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 (assistance made available by the Secretary of State or local authorities),
any facilities (including goods or materials, or the use of any premises and the use of any vehicle, plant or apparatus) provided by him for any service under this Act; and, where anything is so made available, the services of persons employed by the Secretary of State or by a [F2Strategic Health Authority,][F3Health Authority [F4, Special Health Authority [F5, Primary Care Trust or Local Health Board]]] in connection with it.
(3)The powers conferred by this section may be exercised on such terms as may be agreed, including terms as to the making of payments by or to the Secretary of State, and any goods or materials may be made available either temporarily or permanently.
(4)The Secretary of State may by order provide that, in relation to a vehicle which is made available by him in pursuance of this section and is used in accordance with the terms on which it is so made available, [F6the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994] and [F7Part VI of the Road Traffic Act 1988] shall have effect with such modifications as are specified in the order.
(5)Any power to supply goods or materials conferred by this section includes a power to purchase and store them and includes a power to arrange with third parties for the supply of goods or materials by those third parties.
Textual Amendments
F1Para. repealed by Health Services Act 1980 (c. 53, SIF 113:2), Sch. 7
F2Words in s. 23(2) inserted (1.10.2002) by National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 (c. 17), ss. 1(3), 42(3), Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 11; S.I. 2002/2478, art. 3(1)(c)
F3Words in s. 23(2) substituted (28.6.1995 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 17, ss. 2(1)(3), 8(1), Sch. 1 para. 13 (with Sch. 2 paras. 6, 16)
F4Words in s. 23(2) substituted (8.2.2000) by S.I. 2000/90, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 13(2) (with art. 2(5))
F5Words in s. 23(2) substituted (10.10.2002 for W., otherwise prosp.) by National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 (c. 17), ss. 6(2), 42(3), Sch. 5 para. 9; S.I. 2002/2532, art. 2
F6Words in s. 23(4) substituted (1.9.1994) by 1994 c. 22, ss. 63, 66(1), Sch. 3 para. 10 (with s. 57(4))
F7Words substituted by Road Traffic (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988 (c. 54, SIF 107:1), s. 4, Sch. 3 para. 18(1)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 23(1)-(3): functions of local authority not to be responsibility of an executive of the authority (1.4.2000) by virtue of S.I. 2000/695, reg. 3(2)(a), Sch. 1
C2S. 23(1)-(3): transfer of functions (E.) (1.4.2001) by S.I. 2001/747, regs. 2(1), 3, 4, Sch. 1
Options/Help
Print Options
PrintThe Whole Act
PrintThe Whole Part
PrintThe Whole Cross Heading
PrintThis Section only
You have chosen to open The Whole Act
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open The Whole Act as a PDF
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open the Whole Act
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open Schedules only
The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Legislation is available in different versions:
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
See additional information alongside the content
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Opening Options
Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once
More Resources
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
- the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
- lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
- confers power and blanket amendment details
- all formats of all associated documents
- correction slips
- links to related legislation and further information resources
Timeline of Changes
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
More Resources
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
- the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
- correction slips
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:
- lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
- confers power and blanket amendment details
- all formats of all associated documents
- links to related legislation and further information resources
All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. This site additionally contains content derived from EUR-Lex, reused under the terms of the Commission Decision 2011/833/EU on the reuse of documents from the EU institutions. For more information see the EUR-Lex public statement on re-use.