Health Act 2006

18 Co-operation between health bodies and other organisations U.K.

(1) The relevant authority may by regulations make provision for or in connection with requiring responsible bodies to co-operate with each other in connection with—

(a) the identification of cases in which action may need to be taken in respect of matters arising in relation to the management or use of controlled drugs by relevant persons (see section 19);

(b) the consideration of issues relating to the taking of action in respect of such matters;

(c) the taking of action in respect of such matters.

(2) In this Chapter “responsible body” means—

(a) a body falling within any description of bodies prescribed as responsible bodies for the purposes of this section, or

(b) a body prescribed as a responsible body for those purposes.

(3) The descriptions of bodies, or bodies, that may be so prescribed are—

(a) descriptions of bodies, or bodies, which fall within subsection (4); and

(b) police forces.

(4) Descriptions of bodies, or bodies, fall within this subsection if they appear to the relevant authority—

(a) to be directly or indirectly concerned with the provision of health care (whether or not for the purposes of the health service),

(b) to be otherwise carrying on activities that involve, or may involve, the supply or administration of controlled drugs,

(c) to have powers of inspection in relation to the management or use of controlled drugs,

(d) to be public or local authorities with responsibilities in relation to social care, or

(e) to be public or local authorities (not within paragraphs (a) to (d)) whose responsibilities include responsibilities with respect to matters such as are mentioned in subsection (1).

(5) Regulations under this section may make provision—

(a) for requiring a responsible body to disclose information to any other such body or bodies in prescribed circumstances, or in circumstances where it appears to the responsible body that the prescribed conditions are satisfied, whether or not the disclosure of information has been requested;

(b) in relation to a responsible body which has an accountable officer, for requiring disclosures to be made by or to that officer instead of by or to the body;

(c) in relation to a responsible body which is a police force, for imposing duties on the chief officer;

(d) for requiring a responsible body, in prescribed circumstances, to consult the prescribed accountable officer in connection with any requirement imposed on the body under the regulations;

(e) for imposing duties on accountable officers in relation to the taking of action for the purpose of protecting the safety of patients or the general public.

(6) The duties that may be imposed on an accountable officer in pursuance of subsection (5)(e) include a duty to make recommendations to a responsible body as to any action which the officer considers that the body should take for the purpose mentioned in that provision.

(7) The action that may be so recommended includes action in relation to the institution of disciplinary proceedings.

(8) Nothing in subsections (5) to (7) is to be read as prejudicing the generality of subsection (1).

(9) In this section—

(a) “chief officer” means—

(i) in relation to a police force in England and Wales, the chief officer of police;

(ii) in relation to a police force in Scotland, the chief constable;

(iii) in relation to the Police Service of Northern Ireland or the Police Service of Northern Ireland Reserve, the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland;

(b) “police force” means—

(i) a police force in England, Wales or Scotland, or

(ii) the Police Service of Northern Ireland or the Police Service of Northern Ireland Reserve;

(c) “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations under this section.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 18 in force for certain purposes at Royal Assent, see s. 83

I2 S. 18 in force at 1.1.2007 for E. in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2006/3125, art. 2(1)