This Order further amends the National Health Service (Functions of the Common Services Agency) (Scotland) Order 1974 (“the principal Order”).

This Order amends the principal Order by giving to the Common Services Agency (“the CSA”) the function of research and development services in the field of public health. It also gives the CSA the function of preventing, detecting and investigating fraud or other irregularities in relation to the provision of general medical, dental, and ophthalmic services, pharmaceutical services and personal medical services in Scotland.

The Order also amends the principal Order to delete reference to the provision by the CSA of an ambulance service, as the Scottish Ambulance Service Board undertakes that function. It also deletes reference in the principal Order to the Scottish Dental Estimates Board and substitutes reference to the Scottish Dental Practice Board, to reflect the previous change of name of the Board. The Order also gives the CSA the function of providing legal services to Special Health Boards and NHS trusts, as well as to Health Boards.