National Health Service Act 2006

Chapter 4 E+W Special Health Authorities

28 Special Health Authorities E+W

(1) The Secretary of State may by order establish special bodies for the purpose of exercising any functions which may be conferred on them by or under this Act.

(2) The Secretary of State may make such further provision relating to a body established under subsection (1) as he considers appropriate.

(3) A body established under this section is called a Special Health Authority.

(4) An order may, in particular, contain provisions as to—

(a) the membership of the body established by the order,

(b) the transfer to the body of officers, property and liabilities, and

(c) the name of the body.

(5) The liabilities which may be transferred by virtue of this section, section 272(8) and section 273(1) to an NHS body on the abolition of a Special Health Authority include criminal liabilities.

F1 (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(7) The Secretary of State must, before he makes an order under this section, consult with respect to the order such bodies as he may recognise as representing officers who in his opinion are likely to be transferred or affected by transfers in pursuance of the order.

(8) Schedule 6 makes further provision about Special Health Authorities.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 28(6) omitted (1.10.2012) by virtue of Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), s. 306(4), Sch. 4 para. 13; S.I. 2012/1831, art. 2(2)

F2 28A Special Health Authorities: further provision E+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F2 S. 28A omitted (1.7.2022) by virtue of Health and Care Act 2022 (c. 31), ss. 86(1)(a), 186(6); S.I. 2022/734, reg. 2(a), Sch. (with regs. 13, 29, 30)

29 Exercise of Special Health Authority functions E+W

(1) Regulations may provide for any functions which are exercisable by a Special Health Authority under section 7 to be exercised—

(a) by another Special Health Authority, or

(b) jointly with one or more other Special Health Authorities.

(2) Regulations may provide—

(a) for any functions which are exercisable by a Special Health Authority under section 7 F3 ... F4 ... or this section to be exercised on behalf of that Special Health Authority by a committee, sub-committee or officer of the Special Health Authority,

(b) for any functions exercisable jointly under subsection (1)(b) to be exercised, on behalf of the Special Health Authorities in question, by a joint committee or joint sub-committee.

Textual Amendments

F3 Words in s. 29(2)(a) omitted (1.4.2013) by virtue of Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), s. 306(4), Sch. 4 para. 14(a); S.I. 2013/160, art. 2(2) (with arts. 7-9)

F4 Words in s. 29(2)(a) omitted (1.4.2013) by virtue of Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), s. 306(4), Sch. 4 para. 14(b); S.I. 2013/160, art. 2(2) (with arts. 7-9)

[F5 29A Special Health Authorities: accounts and audit E+W

(1) In this section a reference to a Special Health Authority is to a Special Health Authority which—

(a) performs functions only or mainly in respect of England, or

(b) neither performs functions only or mainly in respect of England, nor performs functions only or mainly in respect of Wales.

(2) A Special Health Authority must keep proper accounts and proper records in relation to the accounts.

(3) The Secretary of State may give a Special Health Authority directions as to the form in which its accounts must be kept.

(4) A Special Health Authority must prepare, in respect of each financial year, annual accounts in such form as the Secretary of State may direct.

(5) A Special Health Authority must send copies of any annual accounts prepared by it under subsection (4)—

(a) to the Secretary of State, by such date as the Secretary of State may direct, and

(b) to the Comptroller and Auditor General, as soon as is reasonably practicable following the end of the financial year in question.

(6) The Comptroller and Auditor General must examine, certify and report on the annual accounts.

(7) The Special Health Authority must lay before Parliament—

(a) a copy of the annual accounts, and

(b) the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report on them.

(8) Nothing in subsection (2) requires any annual accounts prepared by a Special Health Authority to include matters relating to a charitable trust of which it is a trustee.

(9) Nothing in subsection (4) has effect in relation to accounts relating to a charitable trust of which the Special Health Authority is a trustee.]

Textual Amendments

F5 S. 29A inserted (1.7.2022) by Health and Care Act 2022 (c. 31), ss. 87(1), 186(6); S.I. 2022/734, reg. 2(a), Sch. (with regs. 13, 29, 30)