(1)The Secretary of State may by order establish special bodies for the purpose of exercising any functions which may be conferred on them by or under this Act.
(2)The Secretary of State may make such further provision relating to a body established under subsection (1) as he considers appropriate.
(3)A body established under this section is called a Special Health Authority.
(4)An order may, in particular, contain provisions as to—
(a)the membership of the body established by the order,
(b)the transfer to the body of officers, property and liabilities, and
(c)the name of the body.
(5)The liabilities which may be transferred by virtue of this section, section 272(8) and section 273(1) to an NHS body on the abolition of a Special Health Authority include criminal liabilities.
(6)In this Act (apart from in Schedule 15) “NHS body” means—
(a)a Strategic Health Authority,
(b)a Primary Care Trust,
(c)an NHS trust,
(d)a Special Health Authority,
(e)an NHS foundation trust, and
(f)a Local Health Board.
(7)The Secretary of State must, before he makes an order under this section, consult with respect to the order such bodies as he may recognise as representing officers who in his opinion are likely to be transferred or affected by transfers in pursuance of the order.
(8)Schedule 6 makes further provision about Special Health Authorities.