Health Act 1999 (c. 8)

(The document as of February, 2008)

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(2) If requested to do so by the Audit Commission in any particular case, the Commission may assist the Audit Commission in the exercise of its functions under section 33(1) of the [1998 c. 18.] Audit Commission Act 1998 so far as they relate to any body specified in section 98(1) of the 1977 Act.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (1), the Commission's functions under paragraph (b) or (d) of section 20(1) are to be treated as including the function of conducting and making reports on studies designed to improve--

(a) economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the performance of any functions of the persons mentioned in that paragraph, and

(b) the management of those persons.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (1), the Commission's functions mentioned in subsection (1)(b) are to be treated as including the function of conducting and making reports on studies designed to improve--

(a) economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the performance of any functions of the bodies mentioned in subsection (1)(b)(iii) to which those functions of the Commission relate, and

(b) the management of those bodies.

(5) Any report prepared by virtue of subsection (1) is to be prepared by the Commission acting in conjunction with the Audit Commission.

(6) The Audit Commission may not act as mentioned in subsection (1) unless, before it does so, the Commission has agreed to pay the Audit Commission an amount equal to the full costs incurred by the Audit Commission in so acting.

(7) The Commission may not act as mentioned in subsection (2) unless, before it does so, the Audit Commission has agreed to pay the Commission an amount equal to the full costs incurred by the Commission in so acting.

(8) Any reference in subsection (5) or (6) to subsection (1) is a reference to that subsection as read with subsections (3) and (4).

(9) In this section "the Audit Commission" means the Audit Commission for Local Authorities and the National Health Service in England and Wales.

22 Arrangements with Ministers

(1) Arrangements may be made between the Commission and a Minister of the Crown--

(a) for the Commission to perform any of its functions in relation to any prescribed health scheme for which the Minister has responsibility, or

(b) for the Commission to provide services or facilities in so far as they are required by the Minister in connection with any such health scheme.

(2) Arrangements may be made between the Commission and a Northern Ireland Minister--

(a) for the Commission to perform on behalf of the Minister any functions of the Minister which--

(i) correspond to any functions of the Commission, and

(ii) relate to the Northern Irish health service, or

(b) for the Commission to provide services or facilities in so far as they are required by the Minister in connection with the exercise by him of any such functions.

(3) Arrangements under this section may be made on such terms and conditions as may be agreed between the parties to the arrangements.

(4) Those terms and conditions may include provision with respect to the making of payments to the Commission in respect of the cost to the Commission of performing or providing any functions, services or facilities under the arrangements.

(5) Any arrangements under subsection (2)(a) are not to affect the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Minister on whose behalf any functions are exercised.

(6) In this section--

"health scheme" means any scheme which appears to the Secretary of State to be a health or medical scheme paid for out of public funds,
"Minister of the Crown" has the same meaning as in the [1975 c. 26.] Ministers of the Crown Act 1975,
"Northern Ireland Minister" includes the First Minister, the deputy First Minister and a Northern Ireland department,
"Northern Irish health service" means any of the health services under any enactment which extends to Northern Ireland and which corresponds to section 1(1) of the 1977 Act,
"prescribed" means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State.

23 Obtaining information etc

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision--

(a) conferring a right on persons authorised by the Commission to enter NHS premises at such times, in such cases, for such purposes and on such conditions as may be prescribed in order--

(i) to inspect those premises, or

(ii) to inspect and take copies of prescribed documents held by prescribed persons on those premises,

(b) requiring prescribed persons at such times, at such places, in such cases and for such purposes as may be prescribed to produce prescribed documents or information, or make reports, to the Commission or to persons authorised by the Commission,

(c) requiring prescribed persons at such times, at such places, in such cases and for such purposes as may be prescribed to provide to the Commission, or to persons authorised by the Commission, an explanation of--

(i) any matters which are the subject of the exercise of any functions of the Commission, or

(ii) any documents or information inspected, copied or produced as mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b).

(2) Regulations under this section may not make provision with respect to the disclosure of confidential information which relates to and identifies a living individual unless one or more of the following conditions is satisfied--

(a) the information is disclosed in a form in which the identity of the individual cannot be ascertained,

(b) the individual consents to the information being disclosed,

(d) in a case where the Commission is exercising its functions under section 20(1)(c)--

(i) it is not practicable to disclose the information in a form in which the identity of the individual cannot be ascertained,

(ii) the Commission considers that there is a serious risk to the health or safety of patients arising out of the matters which are the subject of the exercise of those functions, and

(iii) having regard to that risk and the urgency of the exercise of those functions, the Commission considers that the information should be disclosed without the consent of the individual.

(3) Regulations under this section may not make provision with respect to the disclosure of information if that disclosure would be prohibited by or under any other enactment; but where information is held in a form in which the prohibition operates by reason of the fact that the information is capable of identifying an individual, regulations under this section may make provision with respect to the disclosure of the information in a form in which the identity of the individual cannot be ascertained.

(4) Any person who without reasonable excuse--

(a) obstructs a person authorised by the Commission in the exercise of any right conferred by virtue of subsection (1)(a), or

(b) fails to comply with any requirement imposed by virtue of subsection (1)(b) or (c),

is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(5) In this section any reference to documents includes a reference to information held by means of a computer or in any other electronic form; and in the case of information so held, regulations under this section may make provision for it to be made available or produced in a visible and legible form.

(6) In this section--

"confidential information" means information which is held subject to a duty of confidence, and includes information contained in a health record,
"health record" has the meaning given by section 68(2) of the [1988 c. 29.] Data Protection Act 1998,
"NHS premises" means premises owned or controlled by a Health Authority, Special Health Authority, Primary Care Trust or NHS trust,
"prescribed" means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State.

24 Restrictions on disclosure of information

(1) A person who, without lawful authority, knowingly or recklessly discloses information which--

(a) falls within section 23(2), and

(b) has been obtained by the Commission in accordance with any condition mentioned in section 23(2),

is guilty of an offence if the disclosure is made during the lifetime of the individual to whom the information relates.

(2) A person who, without lawful authority, knowingly or recklessly discloses information which--

(a) relates to and identifies an individual,

(b) has been obtained by the Commission on terms or in circumstances requiring it to be held in confidence, and

is guilty of an offence if the disclosure is made during the lifetime of that individual.

(3) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable--

(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both, or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or to both.

(4) It is not an offence under this section--

(a) to disclose information in a form in which the individual to whom the information relates is not identified, or

(b) to disclose information which has previously been disclosed to the public with lawful authority.

(5) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that at the time of the alleged offence--

(a) he believed that he was making the disclosure in question with lawful authority and had no reasonable cause to believe otherwise, or

(b) he believed that the information in question had previously been disclosed to the public with lawful authority and had no reasonable cause to believe otherwise.

(6) For the purposes of this section a disclosure of information is to be regarded as made with lawful authority if, and only if, it is made--

(a) with the consent of the individual to whom the information relates,

(b) for the purpose of facilitating the exercise of any functions of the Commission,

(c) for the purpose of facilitating the conduct of any investigation under the [1993 c. 46.] Health Service Commissioners Act 1993,

(d) in accordance with any enactment or order of a court,

(e) in connection with the investigation of a serious arrestable offence,

(f) for the purposes of criminal proceedings in any part of the United Kingdom,

(g) in a case where the information appears to the Commission to reveal--

(i) that the performance of a health professional in his capacity as such has or may have fallen substantially below that which is expected,

(ii) that a health professional has or may have been guilty of serious professional misconduct, or

(iii) that the fitness of a health professional to practise as such is or may be seriously impaired by reason of his physical or mental condition,

and the person to whom the information is disclosed is a person to whom the Commission considers that it should be disclosed in order for appropriate action to be taken, or

(h) in a case where--

(i) the information reveals that a person is likely to constitute a threat to the health or safety of individuals, and

(ii) the person to whom it is disclosed is a person to whom the Commission considers that the information should be disclosed in the interests of the health and safety of individuals.

(7) For the purposes of subsection (2), information obtained by the Commission is to be regarded as identifying an individual if the individual can be identified--

(a) from that information, or

(b) from that information and from other information obtained by the Commission.

(8) For the purposes of subsection (4)(a), information disclosed by a person is not to be regarded as being in a form in which an individual is not identified if the individual can be identified--

(a) from that information, or

(b) from that information and from other information disclosed--

(i) by the Commission, or

(ii) by any member or employee of the Commission.

(9) Any reference in subsection (1), (2), (7) or (8)(b)(i) to the Commission includes a reference to any person authorised by the Commission under section 23.

(10) In this section--

"health professional" has meaning given by section 69(1) of the [1998 c. 29.] Data Protection Act 1998,
"serious arrestable offence"--
(a)
in relation to England and Wales, is to be construed in accordance with section 116 of [1984 c. 60.] the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984,
(b)
in relation to Scotland, means an offence which is triable on indictment,
(c)
in relation to Northern Ireland, is to be construed in accordance with Article 87 of the [S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I.12).] Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989.

25 Abolition of Clinical Standards Advisory Group

The Clinical Standards Advisory Group is to cease to exist.

Partnership

26 Co-operation between NHS bodies

It is the duty of Health Authorities, Special Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts and NHS trusts to co-operate with each other in exercising their functions.

27 Co-operation between NHS bodies and local authorities

(1) Section 22 of the 1977 Act (co-operation between health authorities and local authorities) is amended as follows.(2) For subsection (1) (co-operation between Health Authorities and Special Health Authorities on the one hand and local authorities on the other) there is substituted--

" (1) In exercising their respective functions NHS bodies (on the one hand) and local authorities (on the other) shall co-operate with one another in order to secure and advance the health and welfare of the people of England and Wales.

(1A) In this section "NHS body" means--

(a) a Health Authority;

(b) a Special Health Authority;

(d) an NHS trust. "

28 Plans for improving health etc

(1) It is the duty of each Health Authority, at such times as the Secretary of State may direct, to prepare a plan which sets out a strategy for improving--

(a) the health of the people for whom they are responsible, and

(b) the provision of health care to such people.

(2) It is the duty of each Health Authority to keep under review any plan prepared by them under this section.

(3) It is the duty of the bodies specified in subsection (4) to participate in the preparation or review by a Health Authority of any plan under this section.

(4) Those bodies are--

(a) any Primary Care Trust whose area falls within the area of the Health Authority,

(b) any NHS trust which provides services at or from a hospital or other establishment or facility which falls within the area of the Health Authority, and

(5) In preparing or reviewing any plan under this section, a Health Authority--

(a) must consult, or seek the participation of, such persons as the Secretary of State may direct, and

(b) may consult, or seek the participation of, such other persons as they consider appropriate.

(6) The Secretary of State may give directions--

(a) as to the periods to be covered by plans under this section,

(b) as to the action to be taken by Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts, NHS trusts and local authorities in connection with the preparation or review of plans under this section,

(d) as to the matters to be dealt with by plans under this section,

(e) as to the form and content of plans under this section,

(f) as to the publication of plans prepared or reviewed under this section,

(g) as to the sharing of information between Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts, NHS trusts and local authorities in connection with the preparation or review of plans under this section,

(h) as to the provision by Health Authorities of reports or other information to the Secretary of State in connection with plans under this section.

(7) In exercising their respective functions--

(a) Health Authorities must have regard to any plan prepared or reviewed by them under this section, and

(b) Primary Care Trusts, NHS trusts and local authorities must have regard to any plan under this section in relation to which they have participated.

(8) For the purposes of this section, the persons for whom a Health Authority are responsible are--

(a) the people in the Authority's area, and

(b) such of the people outside the Authority's area as may be specified in directions given by the Secretary of State.

(9) It is the duty of Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts, NHS trusts and local authorities to comply with any directions under this section which relate to them.

(10) In this section--

"health care" has the meaning given by section 18(4),
"local authority" means a county council, a county borough council, a district council, a London borough council or the Common Council of the City of London.

29 Payments by NHS bodies to local authorities

(1) Section 28A of the 1977 Act (power to make payments towards expenditure on community services) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1) (authorities to which section applies)--

(a) for "authorities" there is substituted "bodies",

(b) for paragraph (b) (which specifies a Special Health Authority established for a London Post-Graduate Teaching Hospital) there is substituted--

" (b) a Primary Care Trust " .

(3) After subsection (2) there is inserted--

" (2A) A body to which this section applies may, if they think fit, make payments to a local authority towards expenditure incurred or to be incurred by the authority in connection with the performance of any of the authority's functions which, in the opinion of the body,--

(a) have an effect on the health of any individuals,

(b) have an effect on, or are affected by, any NHS functions, or

(2B) In this section "NHS functions" means functions exercised by a Health Authority, Special Health Authority, Primary Care Trust or NHS trust. "

30 Payments by local authorities to NHS bodies

After section 28B of the 1977 Act there is inserted--

" 28BB Power of local authorities to make payments to NHS bodies

(1) A local authority may, if they think fit, make payments to a relevant NHS body towards expenditure incurred or to be incurred by the body in connection with the performance by the body of prescribed functions of the NHS body.

(2) In this section--

"prescribed" means prescribed to any extent by regulations made by the Secretary of State;
"relevant NHS body" means a Health Authority or a Primary Care Trust.

(3) A payment under this section may be made in respect of expenditure of a capital or of a revenue nature or in respect of both kinds of expenditure.

(4) The Secretary of State may by directions prescribe conditions relating to payments under this section.

(5) The power to give such directions may be exercised so as to make, as respects the cases in relation to which it is exercised, the same provision for all cases, or different provision for different cases or different classes of case, or different provision as respects the same case or class of case for different purposes.

(6) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (4) above, the power may be exercised--

(a) so as to make different provision for England and Wales and different provision for different areas in either; and

(b) so as to require, in such circumstances as may be specified--

(i) repayment of the whole or any part of a payment under this section; or

(ii) payment, in respect of property acquired with money paid under this section, of an amount representing the whole or part of an increase in the value of the property which has occurred since its acquisition.

(7) No payment shall be made under this section in respect of any expenditure unless the conditions relating to it conform with the conditions prescribed for payments of that description under subsection (4) above. "

31 Arrangements between NHS bodies and local authorities

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for or in connection with enabling prescribed NHS bodies (on the one hand) and prescribed local authorities (on the other) to enter into prescribed arrangements in relation to the exercise of--

(a) prescribed functions of the NHS bodies, and

(b) prescribed health-related functions of the local authorities,

if the arrangements are likely to lead to an improvement in the way in which those functions are exercised.

(2) The arrangements which may be prescribed include arrangements--

(a) for or in connection with the establishment and maintenance of a fund--

(i) which is made up of contributions by one or more NHS bodies and one or more local authorities, and

(ii) out of which payments may be made towards expenditure incurred in the exercise of both prescribed functions of the NHS body or bodies and prescribed health-related functions of the authority or authorities,

(b) for or in connection with the exercise by an NHS body on behalf of a local authority of prescribed health-related functions of the authority in conjunction with the exercise by the NHS body of prescribed functions of theirs,

(c) for or in connection with the exercise by a local authority on behalf of an NHS body of prescribed functions of the NHS body in conjunction with the exercise by the authority of prescribed health-related functions of theirs,

(d) as to the provision of staff, goods, services or accommodation in connection with any arrangements mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c),

(e) as to the making of payments by a local authority to an NHS body in connection with any arrangements mentioned in paragraph (b),

(f) as to the making of payments by an NHS body to a local authority in connection with any arrangements mentioned in paragraph (c).

(3) Regulations under this section may make provision--

(a) as to the cases in which NHS bodies and local authorities may enter into prescribed arrangements,

(b) as to the conditions which must be satisfied in relation to prescribed arrangements (including conditions in relation to consultation),

(c) for or in connection with requiring the consent of the Secretary of State to the operation of prescribed arrangements (including provision in relation to applications for consent, the approval or refusal of such applications and the variation or withdrawal of approval),

(d) in relation to the duration of prescribed arrangements,

(e) for or in connection with the variation or termination of prescribed arrangements,

(f) as to the responsibility for, and the operation and management of, prescribed arrangements,

(g) as to the sharing of information between NHS bodies and local authorities.

(4) The provision which may be made by virtue of subsection (3)(f) includes provision in relation to--

(a) the formation and operation of joint committees of NHS bodies and local authorities,

(b) the exercise of functions which are the subject of prescribed arrangements (including provision in relation to the exercise of such functions by joint committees or employees of NHS bodies and local authorities),

(d) the monitoring of prescribed arrangements,

(e) the provision of reports on, and information about, prescribed arrangements,

(f) complaints and disputes about prescribed arrangements,

(g) accounts and audit in respect of prescribed arrangements.

(5) Any arrangements made by virtue of this section shall not affect--

(a) the liability of NHS bodies for the exercise of any of their functions,

(b) the liability of local authorities for the exercise of any of their functions, or

(c) any power or duty to recover charges in respect of services provided in the exercise of any local authority functions.

(6) The Secretary of State may issue guidance to NHS bodies and local authorities in relation to consultation or applications for consent in respect of prescribed arrangements.

(7) The reference in subsection (1) to an improvement in the way in which functions are exercised includes an improvement in the provision to any individuals of any services to which those functions relate.

(8) In this section--

"health-related functions", in relation to a local authority, means functions of the authority which, in the opinion of the Secretary of State--
(i)
have an effect on the health of any individuals,
(ii)
have an effect on, or are affected by, any functions of NHS bodies, or
(iii)
are connected with any functions of NHS bodies,
"local authority" means a district council, county council, county borough council, London borough council or the Common Council of the City of London,
"NHS body" means a Health Authority, Primary Care Trust or NHS trust,
"prescribed" means prescribed to any extent by regulations made by the Secretary of State.

32 Joint consultative committees

In section 22 of the 1977 Act (co-operation between health authorities and local authorities), subsections (2) to (6) (which make provision in relation to joint consultative committees) are omitted.

Control of prices of medicines and profits

33 Powers relating to voluntary schemes

(1) The powers conferred by this section may be exercised where there is in existence a scheme (referred to in this section and sections 34 and 35 as a voluntary scheme) made by the Secretary of State and the industry body for the purpose of--

(a) limiting the prices which may be charged by any manufacturer or supplier to whom the scheme relates for the supply of any health service medicines, or

(b) limiting the profits which may accrue to any manufacturer or supplier to whom the scheme relates in connection with the manufacture or supply of any health service medicines.

(2) For the purposes of this section and sections 34 and 35, a voluntary scheme is to be treated as applying to a manufacturer or supplier to whom it relates if--

(a) he has consented to the scheme being so treated (and has not withdrawn that consent), and

(b) no notice is in force in his case under subsection (4).

(3) For the purposes of this section a voluntary scheme has effect, in relation to a manufacturer or supplier to whom it applies, with any additions or modifications made by him and the Secretary of State.

(4) If any acts or omissions of any manufacturer or supplier to whom a voluntary scheme applies (a "scheme member") have shown that, in the scheme member's case, the scheme is ineffective for either of the purposes mentioned in subsection (1), the Secretary of State may by a written notice given to the scheme member determine that the scheme is not to apply to him.

(5) A notice under subsection (4) must give the Secretary of State's reasons for giving the notice; and the Secretary of State may not give a notice under that subsection until he has given the scheme member an opportunity to make representations about the acts or omissions in question.

(6) Consent under subsection (2)(a) must be given, or withdrawn, in the manner required by the Secretary of State.

(7) The Secretary of State may after consultation with the industry body require any manufacturer or supplier to whom a voluntary scheme applies to--

(a) record and keep any information, and

(b) provide any information to the Secretary of State,

which the Secretary of State may require for the purpose of enabling the scheme to operate or facilitating its operation or for the purpose of giving full effect to any provision made under subsection (8).

(8) The Secretary of State may--

(a) prohibit any manufacturer or supplier to whom a voluntary scheme applies from increasing any price charged by him for the supply of any health service medicine covered by the scheme without the approval of the Secretary of State, and

(b) provide for any amount representing any increase in contravention of that prohibition in the sums charged by that person for that medicine, so far as the increase is attributable to supplies to the health service, to be paid to the Secretary of State within a specified period.

34 Power to control prices

(1) The Secretary of State may, after consultation with the industry body--

(a) limit any price which may be charged by any manufacturer or supplier for the supply of any health service medicine, and

(b) provide for any amount representing sums charged by that person for that medicine in excess of the limit to be paid to the Secretary of State within a specified period.

(2) The powers conferred by this section are not exercisable at any time in relation to a manufacturer or supplier to whom at that time a voluntary scheme applies.

35 Statutory schemes

(1) The Secretary of State may, after consultation with the industry body, make a scheme (referred to in this section and section 36 as a statutory scheme) for the purpose of--

(a) limiting the prices which may be charged by any manufacturer or supplier for the supply of any health service medicines, or

(b) limiting the profits which may accrue to any manufacturer or supplier in connection with the manufacture or supply of any health service medicines.

(2) A statutory scheme may, in particular, make any provision mentioned in subsections (3) to (6).

(3) The scheme may require any manufacturer or supplier to whom it applies to--

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