Overview
8.The Act has 35 sections and 7 Schedules. It comprises 10 headings: Restructuring of administration of health and social care – covers the restructuring of health and social care bodies; Department’s role in promoting and providing health and social care – consists of 5 sections and outlines the general duties, powers and priorities of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (“the Department”); The Regional Board - consists of 5 sections and provides for the establishment of the Regional Health and Social Care Board. It also covers the functions of the Regional Board and outlines its objectives; Regional Agency - consists of 2 sections and provides for the establishment of the Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being; RBSO - consists of 2 sections and provides for the establishment of the Regional Business Services Organisation; Patient representation and public involvement – establishes the Patient and Client Council, covers the functions of the Patient and Client Council and deals with the need for health and social care bodies to consult with service users and produce consultation schemes; HSC trusts – places a duty on HSC trusts in relation to the improvement of health and social well-being; Public-private partnerships – provides for the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, the Regional Health and Social Care Board, the Health and Social Care trusts, the RBSO, special agencies and the Regional Agency to form, or participate in forming, public-private partnerships; Transfer of assets, liabilities and functions - deals with the dissolution of various health and social care bodies and the transfer of assets, liabilities and functions; Supplementary – provides for the Department to make supplementary provisions as it thinks necessary and makes general provisions in respect of subordinate legislation, amendments and repeals. It also sets out the title and commencement dates and includes interpretation provisions.
9.Schedule 1 sets out the constitution of the Regional Health and Social Care Board, Schedule 2 covers the establishment of the Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being , Schedule 3 provides for the establishment of the Regional Business Services Organisation, Schedule 4 covers the establishment of the Patient and Client Council, Schedule 5 provides for the transfer of assets and liabilities and outlines the arrangements for the completion of annual reports and accounts of dissolved bodies, Schedule 6 deals with minor and consequential amendments to other legislation and Schedule 7 deals with repeals of other legislation.