Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1997

3 In section 5, for subsections (2) to (8) substitute—

“(2) The National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Northern Ireland shall consist of—

(a) a chairman appointed by the Head of the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland from among persons who are registered nurses, midwives or health visitors;

(b) such number of other members appointed by the Head of the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland as that Department may specify by order;

(c) the person for the time being appointed in pursuance of subsection (7)(a) to be the chief executive officer of the Board; and

(d) any person for the time being appointed in pursuance of subsection (7)(b) to an office under the Board which is specified for the purposes of this paragraph by the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland by order.

(3) Appointments to the Board for the purposes of subsection (2)(b) shall be made from among persons who—

(a) are registered nurses, midwives or health visitors; or

(b) have such qualifications and experience in education or other fields as, in the opinion of the Head of the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland, will be of value to the Board in the performance of its functions.

(4) The powers conferred by this section shall be so exercised as to secure that a majority of the members of the Board are registered nurses, midwives or health visitors.

(5) The Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland may, with the consent of the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland—

(a) pay such remuneration as the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland thinks fit to any person who is a member of the Board by virtue of appointment by the Head of that Department; and

(b) make such provision as the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland thinks fit for the payment to or in respect of any person who is a member of the Board by virtue of such appointment of pensions, allowances or gratuities.

(6) A National Board may pay to its chairman and members and to other persons appointed to serve on its standing and other committees, such travelling and other allowances as the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland may determine with the consent of the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland.

(7) The Board shall have—

(a) a chief executive officer; and

(b) such other officers as the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland may by order specify for the purposes of this paragraph,

appointed by the Board.

(8) The Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland may by order make such further provision with respect to the constitution and administration of the Board as it thinks fit.”