Health Act 2006

55 Interpretation

(1) In this Chapter—

• “authorised officer”, in relation to any function, means (subject to subsection (5)) an officer of the appropriate national authority authorised by the authority to act in exercise of the function;

• “document” means anything in which information of any description is recorded;

• “employed” means employed whether under a contract of service or a contract for services or otherwise, and whether for remuneration or not;

• “functions to which this Chapter applies” has the meaning given by section 44(4);

• “health service provider”, “NHS body” and “NHS contractor” have the meanings given by section 45;

• “personal records” has the meaning given by section 12 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60);

• “statutory health body” has the meaning given by section 45.

(2) Other expressions used in this Chapter which are also used in the 1977 Act have the same meanings as in that Act.

(3) References in this Chapter to the provision of services—

(a) in relation to statutory health bodies, health service providers or NHS contractors, include references to the provision of goods or facilities, and

(b) include references to the provision of services (or goods or facilities) wherever that takes place.

(4) In relation to information recorded otherwise than in legible form, any reference in this Chapter to the production of documents is a reference to the production of a copy of the information in legible form.

(5) Where functions of the appropriate national authority are exercisable by a Special Health Authority by virtue of directions under section 48—

(a) references in this Chapter to authorised officers include officers of the Special Health Authority authorised by or on behalf of the Authority to act in exercise of the functions, and

(b) references in this Chapter to information held or disclosed by or on behalf of the appropriate national authority include information held or disclosed by or on behalf of the Special Health Authority.