National Health Service Act 1977

26 Supply of goods and services by Secretary of State. E+W+S

(1) The Secretary of State may—

(a) supply to local authorities, and to such public bodies or classes of public bodies as he may determine, any goods or materials of a kind used in the health service;

(b) make available to local authorities, and to those bodies or classes of bodies, any facilities (including the use of any premises and the use of any vehicle, plant or apparatus) provided by him for any service under this act, and the services of persons employed by the Secretary of State or by a [F1 Health Authority or Special Health Authority];

(c) carry out maintenance work in connection with any land or building for the maintenance of which a local authority is responsible.

In this subsection—

• “maintenance work” includes minor renewals, minor improvements and minor extensions; and

• “public bodies” includes public bodies in Northern Ireland.

(2) The Secretary of State may supply or make available to persons providing general medical services, general dental services, general ophthalmic services or pharmaceutical services such goods, materials or other facilities as may be prescribed.

(3) The Secretary of State shall make available to local authorities—

(a) any services or other facilities (excluding the services of any person but including goods or materials, the use of any premises and the use of any vehicle, plant or apparatus) provided under this Act,

(b) the services provided as part of the health service by any person employed by the Secretary of State or a [F1 Health Authority or Special Health Authority], and

(c) the services of any medical practitioner, dental practitioner or nurse employed by the Secretary of State or a [F1 Health Authority or Special Health Authority] otherwise than to provide services which are part of the health service,

so far as is reasonably necessary and practicable to enable local authorities to discharge their functions relating to social services, education and public health.

[F2 (4) The Secretary of State may arrange to make available to local authorities the services of persons of the following descriptions, that is to say—

(a) persons providing general medical services, general dental services, general ophthalmic services or pharmaceutical services, and

(b) persons providing [F3 Health Authorities or Special Health Authorities] with services of a kind provided as part of the health service,

so far as is reasonably necessary and practicable to enable local authorities to discharge their functions relating to social services, education and public health.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 26 substituted (28.6.1995 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 17, ss. 2(1)(3), 8(1), Sch. 1 para. 14(a) (with Sch. 2 paras. 6, 16)

F2 S. 26(4) added by Health Services Act 1980 (c. 53, SIF 113:2), s. 3(1)

F3 Words in s. 26(4)(b) substituted (28.6.1995 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 17, ss. 2(1)(3), 8(1), Sch. 1 para. 14(b) (with Sch. 2 paras. 6, 16)