Health and Care Act 2022

52 NHS trusts: wider effect of decisions E+W

After section 26 of the National Health Service Act 2006 insert—

“26A Duty to have regard to wider effect of decisions

(1) In making a decision about the exercise of its functions, an NHS trust established under section 25 must have regard to all likely effects of the decision in relation to—

(a) the health and well-being of the people of England;

(b) the quality of services provided to individuals—

(i) by relevant bodies, or

(ii) in pursuance of arrangements made by relevant bodies,

for or in connection with the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of illness, as part of the health service in England;

(c) efficiency and sustainability in relation to the use of resources by relevant bodies for the purposes of the health service in England.

(2) In subsection (1)—

(a) the reference to a decision does not include a reference to a decision about the services to be provided to a particular individual for or in connection with the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of illness;

(b) the reference to effects of a decision in relation to the health and well-being of the people of England includes a reference to its effects in relation to inequalities between the people of England with respect to their health and well-being;

(c) the reference to effects of a decision in relation to the quality of services provided to individuals includes a reference to its effects in relation to inequalities between individuals with respect to the benefits that they can obtain from those services.

(3) In discharging the duty under this section, NHS trusts must have regard to guidance published by NHS England under section 13NB.

(4) In this section “relevant bodies” means—

(a) NHS England,

(b) integrated care boards,

(c) NHS trusts established under section 25, and

(d) NHS foundation trusts.”

Commencement Information

I1 S. 52 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 186(6)

I2 S. 52 in force at 1.7.2022 by S.I. 2022/734, reg. 2(a), Sch. (with regs. 13, 29, 30)