2017 No. 505

National Health Service, England

The Local Authorities (Public Health Functions and Entry to Premises by Local Healthwatch Representatives) (Amendment) Regulations 2017

Made

Coming into force

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 6C(2), 272(7) and (8), and 275 of the National Health Service Act 20061.

A draft of these Regulations was laid before Parliament in accordance with section 272(6)(zzb)2 of the National Health Service Act 2006 and was approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

Citation and commencement1

These Regulations may be cited as the Local Authorities (Public Health Functions and Entry to Premises by Local Healthwatch Representatives) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 and come into force on 1st April 2017.

Amendment of the Local Authorities (Public Health Functions and Entry to Premises by Local Healthwatch Representatives) Regulations 20132

1

The Local Authorities (Public Health Functions and Entry to Premises by Local Healthwatch Representatives) Regulations 20133 are amended as follows.

2

Regulations 5C (Review) and 8A (Expiry of Regulations 5A to 5C) are revoked.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Health.

O’ShaughnessyParliamentary Under-Secretary of State,Department of Health
EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Local Authorities (Public Health Functions and Entry to Premises by Local Healthwatch Representatives) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/351) (“the principal Regulations”).

The principal Regulations were amended by S.I. 2015/921 so as to prescribe steps that a local authority must take to secure that certain health and development reviews (referred to as “universal health visitor reviews”) are offered to or for the benefit of pregnant women or children under five in the local authority’s area at specified stages in the development of the pregnant woman or child.

Regulation 5C of the principal Regulations provides that the Secretary of State may review the operation of the universal health visitor reviews and specifies requirements relating to such a review. Regulation 5C is revoked by regulation 2(2) of these Regulations.

The duties of local authorities under the principal Regulations expire on 31 March 2017.

Regulation 8A of the principal Regulations provides that the provisions relating to universal health visitor reviews, including the review provision in regulation 5C, cease to have effect on 31 March 2017. Regulation 8A is revoked by regulation 2(2) of these Regulations. Therefore, local authorities will remain under the duty imposed by the principal Regulations to take steps to provide or secure the provision of universal health visitor reviews.

An assessment of the impact of this instrument on the private sector and civil society organisations has been made. A copy of this impact assessment is annexed to the Explanatory Memorandum. Copies may be obtained by writing to the Department of Health, Richmond House, 79 Whitehall, London SW1A 2NS.