PART 2Improvement in Health Services

I12Quality in the provision of health services

1

The 2006 Act is amended as follows.

2

In Part 1 (promotion and provision of the health service in Wales), after section 1 (Welsh Ministers' duty to promote health services) insert—

1AWelsh Ministers' duty to secure quality in health services

1

The Welsh Ministers must exercise their functions in relation to the health service with a view to securing improvement in the quality of health services.

2

For the purposes of this section—

  • “health services” means any services provided or secured in accordance with this Act;

  • “quality” includes, but is not limited to, quality in terms of—

    1. a

      the effectiveness of health services,

    2. b

      the safety of health services, and

    3. c

      the experience of individuals to whom health services are provided.

3

The Welsh Ministers must publish an annual report on the steps they have taken to comply with the duty in subsection (1).

4

The report must include an assessment of the extent of any improvement in outcomes achieved by virtue of those steps.

5

The Welsh Ministers must lay a copy of the report before the National Assembly for Wales.

3

In Chapter 1 of Part 2 (health service bodies: Local Health Boards), after section 12 (functions of Local Health Boards) insert—

12ALocal Health Boards' duty to secure quality in health services

1

Each Local Health Board must exercise its functions with a view to securing improvement in the quality of health services.

2

For the purposes of this section—

  • “health services” means any services provided or secured in accordance with this Act;

  • “quality” includes, but is not limited to, quality in terms of—

    1. a

      the effectiveness of health services,

    2. b

      the safety of health services, and

    3. c

      the experience of individuals to whom health services are provided.

3

Each Local Health Board must publish an annual report on the steps it has taken to comply with the duty in subsection (1).

4

The report must include an assessment of the extent of any improvement in outcomes achieved by virtue of those steps.

5

The Welsh Ministers must issue guidance to Local Health Boards in relation to the requirements imposed by subsections (1) and (3).

6

The guidance must, in particular, include guidance about—

a

the evidence to be used in support of an assessment required by this section, and

b

the conduct of such an assessment.

7

Each Local Health Board must have regard to guidance issued under subsection (5).

4

In Chapter 2 of Part 2 (health service bodies: NHS trusts), after section 20 (general duty of NHS trusts) insert—

20ADuty of NHS trusts to secure quality in health services

1

Each NHS trust must exercise its functions with a view to securing improvement in the quality of health services.

2

For the purposes of this section—

  • “health services” means any services provided or secured in accordance with this Act;

  • “quality” includes, but is not limited to, quality in terms of—

    1. a

      the effectiveness of health services,

    2. b

      the safety of health services, and

    3. c

      the experience of individuals to whom health services are provided.

3

Each NHS trust must publish an annual report on the steps it has taken to comply with the duty in subsection (1).

4

The report must include an assessment of the extent of any improvement in outcomes achieved by virtue of those steps.

5

The Welsh Ministers must issue guidance to NHS trusts in relation to the requirements imposed by subsections (1) and (3).

6

The guidance must, in particular, include guidance about—

a

the evidence to be used in support of an assessment required by this section, and

b

the conduct of such an assessment.

7

Each NHS trust must have regard to guidance issued under subsection (5).

5

In Chapter 3 of Part 2 (health service bodies: Special Health Authorities), after section 24 (exercise of health service functions by Special Health Authorities) insert—

24ADuty of Special Health Authorities to secure quality in health services

1

Each Special Health Authority must exercise its functions with a view to securing improvement in the quality of health services.

2

For the purposes of this section—

  • “health services” means any services provided or secured in accordance with this Act;

  • “quality” includes, but is not limited to, quality in terms of—

    1. a

      the effectiveness of health services,

    2. b

      the safety of health services, and

    3. c

      the experience of individuals to whom health services are provided.

3

Each Special Health Authority must publish an annual report on the steps it has taken to comply with the duty in subsection (1).

4

The report must include an assessment of the extent of any improvement in outcomes achieved by virtue of those steps.

5

The Welsh Ministers must issue guidance to Special Health Authorities in relation to the requirements imposed by subsections (1) and (3).

6

The guidance must, in particular, include guidance about—

a

the evidence to be used in support of an assessment required by this section, and

b

the conduct of such an assessment.

7

Each Special Health Authority must have regard to guidance issued under subsection (5).

8

This section does not apply in relation to a cross-border Special Health Authority (within the meaning of section 8A(5)).