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 [F3 Strategic Health Authority,] Health Authority or Special Health Authority [F4 or a Primary Care Trust] 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 [F5 Strategic Health Authority or] 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 Words in s. 16D(1) inserted (2.9.2002 for E. and 1.10.2002 for W.) by National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 (c. 17), ss.1(3), 42(3), Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 6(a); S.I. 2002/2202, art. 3(a); S.I. 2002/2478, art. 3(1)(c)

F4 Words in s. 16D(1) inserted (2.9.2002 for E., otherwise prosp.) by National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 (c. 17), ss. 3(2), 42(3); S.I. 2002/2202, art. 3(c)

F5 Words in s. 16D(2) inserted (2.9.2002 for E and 1.10.2002 for W.) by National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 (c. 17), ss.1(3), 42(3), Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 6(b);S.I. 2002/2202, art. 3(a); S.I. 2002/2478, art. 3(1)(c)

[F6 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—

[F7 (za) Strategic Health Authorities;]

(a) Health Authorities;

(b) Special Health Authorities;

(c) Primary Care Trusts;

(d) NHS trusts.

[F8 (3) Nothing in any provision made by or under this or any other Act shall be read as affecting the generality of subsection (1) above.]]

Textual Amendments

F6 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 in so far 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

F7 S. 17(2)(za) inserted (2.9.2002 for E. and 1.10.2002 for W.) by National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 (c. 17), ss. 1(3), 42(3), Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 7; S.I. 2002/2202, art. 3(a); S.I. 2002/2478, art. 3(1)(c)

F8 S. 17(3) substituted for s. 17(3)(a)-(c) (22.10.2001 for E.) by 2001 c. 15, ss. 67(1), 70(2), Sch. 5 Pt. 1 para. 5(3) (with ss. 64(9), 65(4)); S.I. 2001/3619, art. 3(2)

[F9 17A Strategic Health Authority’s directions: distribution of functions. E+W+S

(1) A Strategic Health Authority may, in relation to any specified functions of theirs, direct a Primary Care Trust any part of whose area falls within their area to exercise those functions.

(2) But a Strategic Health Authority may not so direct a Primary Care Trust in relation to any functions of the Strategic Health Authority arising under section 28C arrangements if the Primary Care Trust is providing any services in accordance with those arrangements.

(3) The Secretary of State may direct Strategic Health Authorities that specified functions of theirs—

(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 in subsection (1) above is to be exercised accordingly.

(4) Directions under subsection (3)(a) above may include directions that any of the specified functions are to be exercised (or exercised to or only to any specified extent) jointly with the Strategic Health Authority, or jointly by one or more Primary Care Trusts; but such directions may be given only if regulations providing for the joint exercise of those functions have been made under section 16 or 16B above.

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

Textual Amendments

F9 S. 17A substituted (2.9.2002 for specified purposes for E. and otherwise 1.10.2002) by National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 (c. 17), s. 3(3); S.I. 2002/2202, art. 3(a); S.I. 2002/2478, art. 3(1)(c)

[F10 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

F10 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