Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011

17 Patient advice and support service: establishment and funding

(1) In the 1978 Act, in section 10(1) (Common Services Agency), after “section” insert “and section 10ZA”.

(2) After section 10 of that Act insert—

“10ZA Provision of patient advice and support service

(1) The Agency must secure the adequate provision of the patient advice and support service described in section 18 of the Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 5) in relation to each relevant body.

(2) In exercising its function under subsection (1), the Agency must have regard to the desirability of the service being provided—

(a) in the most efficient and effective manner possible, and

(b) in a manner which co-ordinates with the services of other providers of advice and support.

(3) There may be more than one provider of the patient advice and support service.

(4) The patient advice and support service is not to be provided by—

(a) a Health Board,

(b) a Special Health Board,

(c) Healthcare Improvement Scotland,

(d) the Agency.

(5) Each relevant body must make to its provider of the patient advice and support service, in respect of the provider’s expenses (as respects its activities relating to the service), payments of such amounts, and at such times, as the Scottish Ministers may direct.

(6) For the purposes of this section, a “relevant body” is—

(a) a Health Board, and

(b) any other body that the Scottish Ministers may by order specify.”.