Health and Social Care Act 2012

253 General duties E+W

(1) In exercising its functions the Information Centre must have regard to—

(a) the information standards published by the Secretary of State or [F1 NHS England] under section 250,

(b) such guidance issued by the Secretary of State as the Secretary of State may require,

(c) such guidance issued by [F1 NHS England] as [F1 NHS England] may require,

[F2 (ca) the need to respect and promote the privacy of recipients of health services and of adult social care in England,] and

(d) the need to promote the effective, efficient and economic use of resources in the provision of health services and of adult social care in England.

(2) The Information Centre must—

(a) seek to minimise the burdens it imposes on others, and

(b) exercise its functions effectively, efficiently and economically.

[F3 (2A) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply in relation to the functions of the Information Centre by virtue of the Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021.]

(3) In this Chapter—

• “adult social care”—

  (a)

  includes all forms of personal care and other practical assistance provided for individuals who, by reason of age, illness, disability, pregnancy, childbirth, dependence on alcohol or drugs, or any other similar circumstances, are in need of such care or other assistance, but

  (b)

  does not include anything provided by an establishment or agency for which Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills is the registration authority under section 5 of the Care Standards Act 2000;

• “health services” means services which must or may be provided as part of the health service in England.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 253 substituted (1.7.2022) by Health and Care Act 2022 (c. 31), s. 186(6), Sch. 1 para. 1(1)(2); S.I. 2022/734, reg. 2(a), Sch. (with regs. 13, 29, 30)

F2 S. 253(1)(ca) inserted (15.7.2014) by Care Act 2014 (c. 23), ss. 122(2), 127(1); S.I. 2014/1714, art. 3(2)(d)

F3 S. 253(2A) inserted (1.7.2022) by Health and Care Act 2022 (c. 31), ss. 101(10), 186(6); S.I. 2022/734, reg. 2(a), Sch. (with regs. 13, 29, 30)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 253 in force at 1.4.2013 by S.I. 2013/160, art. 2(2) (with arts. 7-9)