The Health (Wales) Act 2003 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2003

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This is the first Commencement Order under the Health (Wales) Act 2003 (“the Act”).

Article 2 brings into force section 1 of, and Schedule 1 to the Act which relate to Community Health Councils in Wales. Councils established under section 20 of the National Health Service Act 1977 are to continue in existence and the National Assembly for Wales is given power to make regulations in respect of their functions. Additionally, the Assembly may establish a statutory body to advise and assist Community Health Councils with respect to the performance of their functions.

Community councils in England will continue in existence until the commencement of section 22 of the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002.

Article 3 commences for the purposes of making regulations only (in respect of membership and functions), sections 2 and 3 of, and paragraph 10 of Schedule 2 to the Act, relating to the Wales Centre for Health. The Centre is to be established, with a view to undertaking functions relating to the protections and improvement of health in Wales, on 1st April 2005 when section 2 and 3 and Schedule 2 are commenced for all other purposes.

Included in the provisions commenced by Article 2 of the Order are provisions relating to Health Professions Wales, Sections 4 and 5 of the Act empower the National Assembly for Wales to establish a body know as Health Professions Wales and to make provision for the carrying out by Health Professions Wales functions in relation to health care professions and health care support.

The Order also commences consequential amendments and repeals.