National Health Service Act 2006

Part 2 Powers and duties

General

14 (1) An NHS trust may do anything which appears to it to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of or in connection with its functions.

(2) In particular it may—

(a) acquire and dispose of property,

(b) enter into contracts, and

(c) accept gifts of property (including property to be held on trust, either for the general or any specific purposes of the NHS trust or for any purposes relating to the health service).

(3) The reference in sub-paragraph (2)(c) to specific purposes of the NHS trust includes a reference to the purposes of a specific hospital or other establishment or facility at or from which services are provided by the NHS trust.

NHS contracts

15 (1) In addition to carrying out its other functions, an NHS trust may, as the provider, enter into NHS contracts.

(2) An NHS trust may not, as the provider, enter into an NHS contract for the provision of high security psychiatric services (within the meaning of section 4) unless the NHS trust is approved for the purpose of this paragraph by the Secretary of State.

(3) Such approval—

(a) must be for a period specified in the approval,

(b) may be given subject to conditions, and

(c) may be amended or revoked at any time.

Research

16 An NHS trust may undertake and commission research and make available staff and provide facilities for research by other persons.

Training

17 An NHS trust may—

(a) provide training for persons employed or likely to be employed by the NHS trust or otherwise in the provision of services under this Act, and

(b) make facilities and staff available in connection with training by a university or any other body providing training in connection with the health service.

Joint exercise of functions

18 An NHS trust may enter into arrangements for the carrying out, on such terms as the NHS trust considers appropriate, of any of its functions jointly with any Strategic Health Authority, Primary Care Trust, Special Health Authority, Local Health Board or other NHS trust, or any other body or individual.

Payment for accommodation or services

19 (1) According to the nature of its functions, an NHS trust may make accommodation or services available for patients who give undertakings (or for whom undertakings are given) to pay any charges imposed by the NHS trust in respect of the accommodation or services.

(2) An NHS trust may exercise the power conferred by sub-paragraph (1) only—

(a) to the extent that its exercise does not to any significant extent interfere with the performance by the NHS trust of its functions or of its obligations under NHS contracts, and

(b) in circumstances specified in directions under section 8, with the Secretary of State’s consent.

Additional income

20 (1) For the purpose of making additional income available in order better to perform its functions, an NHS trust has the powers specified in section 7(2) of the Health and Medicines Act 1988 (c. 49) (extension of powers of Secretary of State for financing the health service).

(2) The power conferred by sub-paragraph (1) may be exercised only—

(a) to the extent that its exercise does not to any significant extent interfere with the performance by the NHS trust of its functions or of its obligations under NHS contracts, and

(b) in circumstances specified in directions under section 8, with the consent of the Secretary of State.

Provision of accommodation and services outside England and Wales

21 An NHS Trust may arrange for the provision of accommodation and services outside England and Wales.

Conferral of further powers by order

22 The Secretary of State may by order confer specific powers on NHS trusts, further to those provided for by paragraphs 15 to 21.

Powers of NHS trusts to enter into externally financed development agreements

23 (1) The powers of an NHS trust include power to enter into externally financed development agreements.

(2) For the purposes of this paragraph, an agreement is an externally financed development agreement if it is certified as such in writing by the Secretary of State.

(3) The Secretary of State may give a certificate under this paragraph if—

(a) in his opinion the purpose or main purpose of the agreement is the provision of facilities or services in connection with the discharge by the NHS trust of any of its functions, and

(b) a person proposes to make a loan to, or provide any other form of finance for, another party in connection with the agreement.

(4) If an NHS trust enters into an externally financed development agreement it may also, in connection with that agreement, enter into an agreement with a person who falls within sub-paragraph (3)(b) in relation to the externally financed development agreement.

(5) “Another party” means any party to the agreement other than the NHS trust.

(6) The fact that an agreement made by an NHS trust has not been certified under this paragraph does not affect its validity.

Agreements under section 92 or 107

24 An NHS trust may provide services under an agreement made under section 92 (primary medical services) or section 107 (primary dental services) and may do so as a member of a qualifying body (within the meaning given by section 93 or section 108).

Staff

25 (1) An NHS trust may employ such staff as it considers appropriate.

(2) An NHS trust may—

(a) pay its staff such remuneration and allowances, and

(b) employ them on such other terms and conditions,

as it considers appropriate.

(3) An NHS trust must—

(a) in exercising its powers under sub-paragraph (2), and

(b) otherwise in connection with the employment of its staff,

act in accordance with regulations and any directions given by the Secretary of State.

(4) Before making any regulations under sub-paragraph (3), the Secretary of State must consult such bodies as he may recognise as representing persons who, in his opinion, are likely to be affected by the regulations.

Pensions, etc.

26 (1) An NHS trust may, for or in respect of such of its employees as it may determine, make arrangements for providing pensions, allowances or gratuities.

(2) Such arrangements may include the establishment and administration, by the NHS trust or otherwise, of one or more pension schemes.

(3) The reference in sub-paragraph (1) to pensions, allowances or gratuities to or in respect of employees of an NHS trust includes a reference to pensions, allowances or gratuities by way of compensation to or in respect of any of the NHS trust’s employees who suffer loss of office or employment or loss or diminution of emoluments.

(4) This paragraph does not affect the generality of paragraphs 14 and 25.

Compulsory acquisition

27 (1) An NHS trust may be authorised to purchase land compulsorily for the purposes of its functions by means of an order made by the NHS trust and confirmed by the Secretary of State.

(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 (c. 67) applies to the compulsory purchase of land under this paragraph.

(3) No order may be made by an NHS trust under Part 2 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 with respect to any land unless the proposal to acquire the land compulsorily—

(a) has been submitted to the Secretary of State in such form and together with such information as he may require, and

(b) has been approved by him.