Explanatory Note
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations make provision in relation to the functions of the Commission for Health Improvement established under section 19 of the Health Act 1999 (“the Commission”).
Regulation 2 sets out the functions of the Commission to be exercised in addition to those specified in sections 20(1)(a) to (db), 21 and 22 of the Health Act 1999.
Regulations 3 to 22 make provision in relation to the exercise of the Commission’s functions in England. In particular, they make provision—
(a)for an annual work programme (regulation 3);
(b)for the provision of advice or information with respect to arrangements for the purpose of monitoring and improving health care for which Strategic Health Authorities, Primary Care trusts, NHS trusts, Special Health Authorities or providers of family health services have responsibility (“clinical governance arrangements”) (regulations 4 and 5);
(c)for the conduct of reviews of such arrangements and of reviews of the management, provision or quality of, or access to or availability of health care for which NHS bodies or such providers have responsibility, and for reports relating to those reviews (regulations 6 to 10);
(d)for the conduct of investigations into the management, provision or quality of health care for which NHS bodies have responsibility and for reports relating to those investigations (regulations 11 to 16);
(e)for the Commission and persons authorised by the Commission to be able to enter relevant premises and to obtain documents, information and explanations (regulations 17 to 20);
(f)concerning the provision of assistance to the Audit Commission and inquiries relating to the health service (regulations 21 and 22).
These Regulations revoke the Commission for Health Improvement (Functions) Regulations 2000 and the Commission for Health Improvement (Functions) Amendment Regulations 2000.