PART 1

The health service in England

Miscellaneous

Primary care services: directions as to exercise of functions
49
1
After section 98 of the National Health Service Act 2006 insert—

Directions

Exercise of functions
98A
1
The Secretary of State may direct the Board to exercise any of the Secretary of State’s functions relating to the provision of primary medical services.
2
Subsection (1) does not apply to any function of the Secretary of State of making an order or regulations.
3
The Secretary of State may give directions to the Board about its exercise of any functions relating to the provision of primary medical services (including functions which the Board has been directed to exercise under subsection (1)).
4
The Board may direct a clinical commissioning group to exercise any of the Board’s functions relating to the provision of primary medical services.
5
The Board may give directions to a clinical commissioning group about the exercise by it of any functions relating to the provision of primary medical services (including functions which the group has been directed to exercise under subsection (4)).
6
Subsection (4) does not apply to such functions, or functions of such descriptions, as may be prescribed.
7
Where the Board gives a direction under subsection (4) or (5), it may disclose to the clinical commissioning group information it has about the provision of the primary medical services in question, if the Board considers it necessary or appropriate to do so in order to enable or assist the group to exercise the function specified in the direction.
8
A clinical commissioning group exercising a function specified in a direction under subsection (4) or (5) must report to the Board on matters arising out of the group’s exercise of the function.
9
A report under subsection (8) must be made in such form and manner as the Board may specify.
10
The Board may, in exercising its functions relating to the provision of the primary medical services in question, have regard to a report under subsection (8).
2
After section 114 of that Act insert—

Directions

Exercise of functions
114A
1
The Secretary of State may direct the Board to exercise any of the Secretary of State’s functions relating to the provision of primary dental services.
2
Subsection (1) does not apply to any function of the Secretary of State of making an order or regulations.
3
The Secretary of State may give directions to the Board about its exercise of any functions relating to the provision of primary dental services (including functions which the Board has been directed to exercise under subsection (1)).
3
After section 125 of that Act insert—

Directions

Exercise of functions
125A
1
The Secretary of State may direct the Board to exercise any of the Secretary of State’s functions relating to the provision of primary ophthalmic services.
2
Subsection (1) does not apply to any function of the Secretary of State of making an order or regulations.
3
The Secretary of State may give directions to the Board about its exercise of any functions relating to the provision of primary ophthalmic services (including functions which the Board has been directed to exercise under subsection (1)).
4
The Board may direct a clinical commissioning group, a Special Health Authority or such other body as may be prescribed to exercise any of the Board’s functions relating to the provision of primary ophthalmic services.
5
The Board may give directions to a clinical commissioning group, a Special Health Authority or such other body as may be prescribed about the exercise by the body of any functions relating to the provision of primary ophthalmic services (including functions which it has been directed to exercise under subsection (4)).
6
Subsection (4) does not apply to such functions, or functions of such descriptions, as may be prescribed.
7
Where the Board gives a direction to a body under subsection (4) or (5), it may disclose to the body the information it has about the provision of the primary ophthalmic services in question, if the Board considers it necessary or appropriate to do so in order to enable or assist the body to exercise the function specified in the direction.
8
A body which is given a direction under subsection (4) or (5) must report to the Board on matters arising out of the exercise of the function to which the direction relates.
9
A report under subsection (8) must be made in such form and manner as the Board may specify.
10
The Board may, in exercising its functions relating to the provision of the primary ophthalmic services in question, have regard to a report under subsection (8).
4
After section 168 of that Act insert—

Directions

Exercise of functions
168A
1
The Secretary of State may direct the Board to exercise any of the Secretary of State’s functions relating to services that may be provided as pharmaceutical services, or as local pharmaceutical services, under this Part.
2
Subsection (1) does not apply to any function of the Secretary of State of making an order or regulations.
3
The Secretary of State may give directions to the Board about its exercise of any functions relating to pharmaceutical services or to local pharmaceutical services (including functions which the Board has been directed to exercise under subsection (1)).