National Health Service Act 1977

[F1 Part 2 E+W Status, constitution and membership

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 5B inserted (10.10.2002 for W.) by National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 (c. 17), ss 6(2), 42(3), Sch. 4; S.I. 2002/2532, art. 2 Sch.

Status E+W

3 A Local Health Board is not to be regarded as the servant or agent of the Crown or as enjoying any status, immunity or privilege of the Crown; and a Local Health Board’s property is not to be regarded as property of, or property held on behalf of, the Crown.

4 E+W Every Local Health Board shall be a body corporate.

Membership E+W

5 The members of a Local Health Board shall be—

(a) a chairman appointed by the National Assembly for Wales;

(b) if the Assembly thinks fit, a vice-chairman appointed by the Assembly;

(c) officers of the Board; and

(d) a number of persons who are not officers of the Board.

6 (1) The National Assembly for Wales may by regulations make provision about— E+W

(a) the appointment of the chairman, vice-chairman and other members of a Local Health Board (including any conditions to be fulfilled for appointment);

(b) the tenure of office of the chairman, vice-chairman and other members of a Local Health Board (including the circumstances in which they cease to hold office or may be removed or suspended from office);

(c) how many persons may be appointed as members of a Local Health Board and how many of those members may be officers (a minimum and maximum number may be specified for both purposes);

(d) the appointment and constitution of any committees of a Local Health Board (which may include or consist of persons who are not members of the Board);

(e) the appointment and tenure of office of the members of any committees of a Local Health Board;

(f) the procedure to be followed by a Local Health Board, and by any committee of the Board, in the exercise of its functions;

(g) the circumstances in which a person who is not an officer of the Local Health Board is to be treated as if he were such an officer.

(2) The power to make provision under paragraphs (c) and (f) of sub-paragraph (1) above includes power to make regulations about the number of persons who may be appointed and the procedure to be followed during the preparatory period.

(3) Any regulations under this paragraph may, in particular, make provision to deal with cases where the post of any officer of a Local Health Board is held jointly by two or more persons or where the functions of such an officer are in any other way performed by more than one person.

7 E+W Any reference in this Part of this Schedule to a committee of a Local Health Board includes a reference to sub-committees of, and joint committees and joint sub-committees including, the Board.

8 E+W The validity of proceedings of a Local Health Board, or of any of its committees, shall not be affected by any vacancy among the members or by any defect in the appointment of any member.

Staff E+W

9 (1) A Local Health Board may employ such officers as it thinks fit.

(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (3) below, a Board may—

(a) pay its officers such remuneration and allowances; and

(b) employ them on such other terms and conditions,

as it thinks fit.

(3) A Board shall—

(a) in exercising its powers under sub-paragraph (2) above; and

(b) otherwise in connection with the employment of its officers,

act in accordance with regulations made by the National Assembly for Wales and any directions given by the Assembly.

(4) Before making any regulations under sub-paragraph (3) above, the Assembly shall consult such bodies as it may recognise as representing persons who, in its opinion, are likely to be affected by the regulations.

10 (1) Without prejudice to the generality of section 16BB above the National Assembly for Wales may direct a Local Health Board— E+W

(a) to make the services of any of its officers available to another Local Health Board; or

(b) to employ any person who is or was employed by another Local Health Board and is specified in the direction.

(2) Before it gives a direction under sub-paragraph (1) above the Assembly shall—

(a) consult the person whose services are to be made available or who is to be employed;

(b) satisfy itself that the Board has consulted that person; or

(c) consult any such body as the Assembly may recognise as representing that person.

(3) Sub-paragraph (2) above does not apply in relation to a direction under sub-paragraph (1)(a) above if the Assembly—

(a) considers it necessary to give the direction for the purpose of dealing temporarily with an emergency; and

(b) has previously consulted bodies recognised by the Assembly as representing the person whose services are to be made available about the giving of directions for that purpose.

11 E+W In addition to making provision in relation to Strategic Health Authorities, Health Authorities and Special Health Authorities, regulations under paragraph 10(2) of Schedule 5 to this Act may also provide—

(a) for the transfer of officers of one Local Health Board to another; and

(b) for arrangements under which the officers of a Local Health Board are placed at the disposal of another Local Health Board or a local authority.

Remuneration, pensions etc of members E+W

12 (1) A Local Health Board may pay the chairman, the vice-chairman (if any) and any other members of the Board such remuneration and such travelling and other allowances as may be determined by the National Assembly for Wales.

(2) A Board may pay the chairman or any person who has been chairman of the Board such pension, allowance or gratuity as may be determined by the National Assembly for Wales.

(3) A Board may pay the members of any committee of a Board such travelling and other allowances as may be determined by the National Assembly for Wales.

(4) If, when a person ceases to be chairman of a Board, the National Assembly for Wales determines that there are special circumstances which make it right that that person should receive compensation, the Board shall pay to him a sum by way of compensation of such amount as the Assembly may determine.]