National Health Service Act 1977 (c. 49)

Part I E+W+S Services and Administration

[F1 Directions as to distribution and exercise of functions] E+W+S

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 16D, 17, 17A, 17B and preceding cross-heading substituted (1.9.1999 for specified purposes for E., 1.12.1999 for specified purposes for W., 4.1.2000 insofar as not already in force for E. and otherwise prosp.) for s. 17 by 1999 c. 8, s. 12(1); S.I. 1999/3184, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 (with art. 3); S.I. 1999/2342, art. 2(1)(3), Sch. 1, Sch. 2

[F2 16D Secretary of State’s directions: distribution of functions. E+W+S

(1) The Secretary of State may direct a Health Authority or Special Health Authority to exercise any of his functions relating to the health service which are specified in the directions.

(2) The Secretary of State may direct a Special Health Authority to exercise any functions of a Health Authority or a Primary Care Trust which are specified in the directions.

(3) The functions which may be specified in directions under this section include functions under enactments relating to mental health and nursing homes.]

Textual Amendments

F2 Ss. 16D, 17, 17A, 17B and cross-heading substituted (1.9.1999 for specified purposes for E., 1.12.1999 for specified purposes for W., 4.1.2000 insofar as not already in force for E.) for s. 17 by 1999 c. 8, s. 12(1); S.I. 1999/3184, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 (with art. 3); S.I. 1999/2342, art. 2(1)(3), Sch. 1, Sch. 2

[F3 17 Secretary of State’s directions: exercise of functions. E+W+S

(1) The Secretary of State may give directions to any of the bodies mentioned in subsection (2) below about their exercise of any functions.

(2) The bodies are—

(a) Health Authorities;

(b) Special Health Authorities;

(c) Primary Care Trusts;

(d) NHS trusts.

(3) The power conferred by subsection (1) above shall not be exercised so as to give any directions which may be given under—

(a) section 27, 28A, 41A, 97, 97A or 99 of, or paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 or paragraph 9 of Schedule 5A to, this Act;

(b) section 7(3)(ii) of the M1 Health and Medicines Act 1988 (directions about the exercise of powers for financing the health service); or

(c) section 28 of the M2 Health Act 1999 (plans for improving health etc.).]

Textual Amendments

F3 Ss. 16D, 17, 17A, 17B and cross-heading substituted (1.9.1999 for specified purposes for E., 1.12.1999 for specified purposes for W., 4.1.2000 insofar as not already in force for E.) for s. 17 by 1999 c. 8, s. 12(1); S.I. 1999/3184, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 (with art. 3); S.I. 1999/2342, art. 2(1)(3), Sch. 1, Sch. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 17(3) extended (1.9.1999 for E., 1.12.1999 for W.) by 1999 c. 8, s. 12(2); S.I. 1999/2342, art. 2(1), Sch. 1; S.I. 1999/3184, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 (with art. 3) (which amendment falls (prosp.) by reason of the repeal of 1999 c. 8, s. 12(2) by 2001 c. 15, s. 67, Sch. 6 Pt. 1)

Marginal Citations

M1 1988 c.49.

M2 1999 c.8.

[F4 17A Health Authority’s directions: distribution of functions. E+W+S

(1) A Health Authority may direct a Primary Care Trust whose area falls within their area to exercise any specified delegable functions.

(2) A function is a delegable function for the purposes of this section if it is a function exercisable by the Health Authority which is not an excepted function.

(3) In subsection (2) above ”excepted function” means a function under—

(a) section 4 above;

(b) section 15 above (except in so far as it relates to general medical services);

(c) section 44 or 45(1C) to (4) below; or

(d) any of the other provisions of Part II of this Act—

(i) unless it is a function under section 51, 52 or 53; or

(ii) in relation to the remaining provisions of Part II, except in so far as the function relates to general medical services,

or a function referred to in section 28EE(1)(a) to (d) below.

(4) The Secretary of State may direct Health Authorities that specified delegable functions—

(a) are to be exercisable, or exercisable to (or only to) any specified extent, by Primary Care Trusts; or

(b) are not to be exercisable by Primary Care Trusts,

and that the power under subsection (1) above is to be exercised accordingly.

(5) In this section ”specified” means specified in directions.]

Textual Amendments

F4 Ss. 16D, 17, 17A, 17B and preceding cross-heading substituted (1.9.1999 for specified purposes for E., 1.12.1999 for specified purposes for W., 4.1.2000 insofar as not already in force for E. and otherwise prosp.) for s. 17 by 1999 c. 8, s. 12(1); S.I. 1999/3184, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 (with art. 3); S.I. 1999/2342, art. 2(1)(3), Schs. 1, 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 S. 17A modified (4.1.2000 for E. and otherwise prosp.) by 1997 c. 46, s. 8A(1) (as inserted (4.1.2000 for E. and otherwise prosp.) by 1999 c. 8, s. 6(1); S.I. 1999/2342, art. 2(3), Sch. 2)

C3 S. 17A(1) restricted (1.5.2000) by S.I. 2000/1168, art. 8

S. 17A(1) restricted (18.2.2000) by S.I. 2000/307, art. 8

S. 17A(1) restricted (14.8.2000) by S.I. 2000/2154, art. 8

S. 17A(1) restricted (7.7.2000) by S.I. 2000/1718, art. 8

[F5 17B Health Authority’s directions: exercise of functions. E+W+S

(1) A Health Authority may give directions to a Primary Care Trust about its exercise of any functions which the authority have directed the trust to exercise under section 17A above.

(2) Directions under this section have effect subject to any directions given under section 17 above.]

Textual Amendments

F5 Ss. 16D, 17, 17A, 17B and cross-heading substituted (1.9.1999 for specified purposes for E., 1.12.1999 for specified purposes for W., 4.1.2000 insofar as not already in force for E.) for s. 17 by 1999 c. 8, s. 12(1); S.I. 1999/3184, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 (with art. 3); S.I. 1999/2342, art. 2(1)(3), Sch. 1, Sch. 2