Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003

Part 1 — NHS foundation trusts

Introductory

General considerations

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Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts

2

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General duty of regulator

3

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Authorisation

Applications by NHS trusts

4

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References to the provision of health care

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Authorisation of NHS foundation trusts

6

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Effect of authorisation

7

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Amendments of constitution

8

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Variation of authorisation

9

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Register of NHS foundation trusts

10

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Financial matters

Power of Secretary of State to give financial assistance

11

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Prudential borrowing code

12

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Public dividend capital

13

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Functions

Authorised services

14

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Private health care

15

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Protection of property

16

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Financial powers

17

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General powers

18

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Information

19

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Entry and inspection of premises

20

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Fees

21

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Trust funds and trustees

22

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Failure

Failing NHS foundation trusts

23

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Voluntary arrangements

24

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Dissolution etc.

25

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Sections 24 and 25: supplementary

26

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Mergers

Mergers

27

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Section 27: supplementary

28

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Co-operation

Co-operation between NHS bodies

29

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Patient and public involvement

Public involvement and consultation

30

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Patients' Forums

31

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Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health

32

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Miscellaneous

Taxation

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• (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (3) In section 41 of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 (c. 23) (application to the Crown), in subsection (7), after “1978” there is inserted “ an NHS foundation trust ”.

Other amendments relating to NHS foundation trusts

34

Schedule 4 (which makes amendments relating to NHS foundation trusts) has effect.

Conduct of elections

35

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Offence

36

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Representative membership

37

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Audit

38

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General duty of NHS foundation trusts

39

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Supplementary

Interpretation of Part 1

40

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Part 2 — Standards

Chapter 1 — Regulatory bodies

The Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection

41

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The Commission for Social Care Inspection

42

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Transfer of property etc to CHAI and CSCI

43

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Abolition of former regulatory bodies

44

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Chapter 2 — NHS health care: introductory

Quality in health care

45

• (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (2) In this Part “health care” means—

• (a) services provided to individuals for or in connection with the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of illness; and

• (b) the promotion and protection of public health.

• (3) In subsection (2)(a), “illness” has the meaning given by section 275 of the 2006 Act.

• (4) In this Chapter references to the provision of health care for a body include in the case of an English NHS body references to the provision of health care in respect of which direct payments are made by that body under section 12A(1), or under regulations under section 12A(4), of the National Health Service Act 2006.

Standards set by Secretary of State

46

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Standards set by Assembly

47

• (1) The Assembly may prepare and publish statements of standards in relation to the provision of health care by and for Welsh NHS bodies.

• (2) The Assembly must keep the standards under review and may publish amended statements whenever it considers it appropriate.

• (3) The Assembly must consult such persons as it considers appropriate—

• (a) before publishing a statement under this section;

• (b) before publishing an amended statement under this section which in the opinion of the Assembly effects a substantial change in the standards.

• (4) The standards set out in statements under this section are to be taken into account by a Welsh NHS body in discharging a duty under section 12A(1), 20A(1) or 24A(1) of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 (duties to secure quality in the provision of health services).

Chapter 3 — NHS health care: functions of CHAI

Healthcare provided by and for NHS bodies

Introductory

48

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National performance data

49

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Annual reviews

50

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Reviews: England and Wales

51

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Reviews and investigations: England

52

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Failings

53

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Functions relating to Secretary of State and Assembly

54

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Reviews of data

55

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Co-ordination of reviews

56

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Other functions

Studies as to economy, efficiency etc

57

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Additional functions

58

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Supplementary

Criteria

59

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Provision of material

60

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Co-operation between CHAI and the regulator

61

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Fees

62

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Fees: Wales

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Reports and information

64

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Co-operation between CHAI and the Audit Commission

65

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Right of entry

66

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Right of entry: supplementary

67

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Power to require documents and information etc

68

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Power to require explanation

69

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Chapter 4 — NHS health care: functions of National Assembly for Wales

Reviews and investigations

Reviews and investigations relating to Wales

70

• (1) The Assembly has the function of conducting reviews of, and investigations into, the provision of health care by and for Welsh NHS bodies.

• (2) The Assembly may in particular under this section conduct—

• (a) a review of the overall provision of health care by and for Welsh NHS bodies;

• (b) a review of the overall provision of a particular kind of health care by and for Welsh NHS bodies;

• (c) a review of, or investigation into, the provision of any health care by or for a particular Welsh NHS body.

• (3) The Assembly has the function of conducting reviews of the steps taken by a Welsh NHS body for the purpose of discharging a duty under section 12A(1), 20A(1) or 24A(1) of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 (duties to secure quality in the provision of health services).

• (3A) Before conducting a review under this section the Assembly must—

• (a) consult the Auditor General for Wales, and

• (b) take into account any relevant work done or being done by the Auditor General for Wales.

• (4) In exercising its functions under this section in relation to any health care the Assembly shall be concerned in particular with—

• (a) the availability of, and access to, the health care;

• (b) the quality and effectiveness of the health care;

• (c) the financial or other management of the health care and the economy and efficiency of its provision;

• (d) the availability and quality of information provided to the public about the health care;

• (e) the need to safeguard and promote the rights and welfare of children; and

• (f) the effectiveness of measures taken for the purpose specified in paragraph (e) by the body in question and any person who provides, or is to provide, health care for that body,

and must take into account the standards set out in statements published under section 47.

• (5) For the purposes of this section the Assembly may carry out an inspection of—

• (a) any Welsh NHS body;

• (b) any other person who provides, or is to provide, health care for a Welsh NHS body (in Wales or elsewhere).

• (6) Where the Assembly conducts a review under this section it must publish a report.

Reporting to Secretary of State and regulator

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• (1) The Assembly must report to the Secretary of State where, after conducting a review or investigation under section 70, it is of the view that—

• (a) there are significant failings in relation to the provision of health care by or for an English NHS body or cross-border SHA;

• (b) there are significant failings in the running of an English NHS body or cross-border SHA; or

• (c) there are significant failings in the running of any body, or the practice of any individual, providing health care for an English NHS body or cross-border SHA.

• (2) A report under subsection (1) may include a recommendation that, with a view to remedying the failings, the Secretary of State take special measuresor request another person to take special measures in relation to—

• (a) the English NHS body or cross-border SHA; and

• (b) in a case falling within paragraph (c) of subsection (1), any person, other than a Welsh NHS body, referred to in that paragraph.

• (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (5) A report under this section must give the Assembly’s reasons for its view and for any recommendation made.

Ancillary powers

Right of entry

72

• (1) A person authorised to do so by the Assembly may, if the Assembly considers it necessary or expedient for the purposes of this Chapter, at any reasonable time enter and inspect—

• (a) any premises owned or controlled by a Welsh NHS body;

• (b) any other premises used, or proposed to be used, for any purpose connected with—

• (i) the provision of health care by or for a Welsh NHS body; or

• (ii) the discharge of any of the functions of a Welsh NHS body.

• (2) A person who proposes to exercise any power of entry or inspection conferred by this section must if so required produce some duly authenticated document showing his authority to exercise the power.

Right of entry: supplementary

73

• (1) A person authorised by virtue of section 72 to enter and inspect premises may, if he considers it necessary or expedient for the purposes of this Chapter—

• (a) inspect, take copies of and remove from the premises any documents or records (including personal records);

• (b) inspect any other item and remove it from the premises;

• (c) interview in private—

• (i) any person working at the premises;

• (ii) any person receiving health care there who consents to be interviewed; and

• (d) make any other examination into the state and management of the premises and treatment of persons receiving health care there.

• (2) The power in subsection (1)(a) includes—

• (a) power to require any person holding or accountable for documents or records kept on the premises to produce them; and

• (b) in relation to records which are kept by means of a computer, power to require the records to be produced in a form in which they are legible and can be taken away.

• (3) A person authorised by virtue of subsection (1)(a) to inspect any records is entitled to have access to, and to check the operation of, any computer and any associated apparatus or material which is or has been in use in connection with the records in question.

• (4) A person authorised by virtue of section 72 to enter and inspect any premises may—

• (a) require any person to afford him such facilities and assistance with respect to matters within the person’s control as are necessary to enable him to exercise his powers under section 72 or this section; and

• (b) take such measurements and photographs and make such recordings as he considers necessary to enable him to exercise those powers.

• (5) Any person who without reasonable excuse—

• (a) obstructs the exercise of any power conferred by section 72 or this section, or

• (b) fails to comply with any requirement of section 72 or this section,

is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

Power to require documents and information

74

• (1) The Assembly may at any time require any person specified in subsection (2) to provide it with any information, documents, records (including personal records) or other items—

• (a) which relates or relate to—

• (i) the provision of health care by or for a Welsh NHS body; or

• (ii) the discharge of any of the functions of a Welsh NHS body; and

• (b) which the Assembly considers it necessary or expedient to have for the purposes of this Chapter.

• (2) The persons referred to in subsection (1) are—

• (a) the Welsh NHS body;

• (b) any person providing health care for, or exercising functions of, the Welsh NHS body;

• (c) a local authority in Wales.

• (3) The power in subsection (1) to require the provision of records includes, in relation to records kept by means of a computer, power to require the provision of the records in legible form.

• (4) Any person who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with any requirement imposed by virtue of this section is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

Power to require explanation

75

• (1) The Assembly may by regulations make provision requiring prescribed persons to provide to the Assembly, or to persons authorised by it, an explanation of—

• (a) any documents, records or items inspected, copied or provided under sections 72 to 74,

• (b) any information provided under those sections, or

• (c) any matters which are the subject of the exercise of any function of the Assembly under section 70, and

in circumstances where the Assembly considers the explanation necessary or expedient for the purposes of this Chapter.

• (2) Regulations under subsection (1) may require explanations to be provided at such times and places as may be specified by the Assembly.