1Abolition of RHAs, DHAs and FHSAs and duty to establish HAs
(1)For sections 8 and 10 of the [1977 c. 49.] National Health Service Act 1977 (Secretary of State’s duty to establish Regional Health Authorities, District Health Authorities and Family Health Services Authorities) substitute—
“8Health Authorities
(1)It is the duty of the Secretary of State by order to establish, in accordance with Part I of Schedule 5 to this Act, authorities to be called Health Authorities.
(2)Subject to subsection (4) below, a Health Authority shall act for such area of England or of Wales as is specified in the order establishing the authority.
(3)A Health Authority shall be known by such name, in addition to the title “Health Authority”, as—
(a)appears to the Secretary of State appropriately to signify the connection of the Health Authority with the area for which the authority are to act; and
(b)is specified in the order establishing the authority.
(4)The Secretary of State may by order—
(a)vary a Health Authority’s area;
(b)abolish a Health Authority; or
(c)establish a new Health Authority.
(5)The Secretary of State shall act under this section so as to secure—
(a)that the areas for which Health Authorities are at any time acting together comprise the whole of England and Wales; but
(b)that no area for which a Health Authority act extends both into England and into Wales.
(6)The power to make incidental or supplemental provision conferred by section 126(4) below includes in particular, in its application to orders made under this section, power to make provision for the transfer of staff, property, rights and liabilities.”
(2)Subject to section 8, subsection (1) shall not come into force until 1st April 1996.