National Health Service Act 1977

128 Interpretation and construction. E+W+S

(1) In this Act [F1 and Part I of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990], unless the contrary intention appears—

• [F2 [F3 “District Health Authority” means the authority for a district, whether or not its name incorporates the word “District”]]

• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F4

• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F5

• “dental practitioner” means a person registered in the dentists register under the M1 Dentists Act [F6 1984];

• [F7 “disabled persons” means persons who are blind, deaf or dumb or who suffer from mental disorder of any description and other persons who are substantially and permanently handicapped by illness, injury or congenital deformity or such other disability as may be prescribed;]

• “dispensing optician” means a person who is registered in the register kept under section 2 of the M2 Opticians Act 1958 of dispensing opticians or a body corporate enrolled in the list kept under section 4 of that Act of such bodies carrying on business as dispensing opticians;

• “equipment” includes any machinery, apparatus or appliance, whether fixed or not, and any vehicle;

• “functions” included powers and duties;

• [F8 “fund-holding practice” shall be construed in accordance with section 14 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990;]

• [F3 [F9 “health authority” means a Regional or District Health Authority or a special health authority but does not include a Family Practitioner Committee;]]

• “the health service” means the health service established in pursuance of [F10 section 1 of the M3 National Health Service Act 1946 and continued under] section 1(1) above;

• “health service hospital” means a hospital vested in the Secretary of State [F11 for the purposes of his functions] under this Act [F12 or vested in an NHS trust];

• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F4

• “hospital” means—

(a) any institution for the reception and treatment of persons suffering from illness,

(b) any maternity home, and

(c) any institution for the reception and treatment of persons during convalescence or persons requiring medical rehabilitation,

and includes clinics, dispensaries and out-patient departments maintained in connection with any such home or institution, and hospital accommodation shall be construed accordingly;

• “illness” includes mental disorder within the meaning of [F13 the M4 Mental Health Act 1983] and any injury or disability requiring medical or dental treatment or nursing;

• “local authority” means a county council, . . . F14 a district council, a London borough council, and the Common Council of the City of London; and includes the King Edward VII Welsh National Memorial Association;

• “local education authority” has the same meaning as in the M5 Education Act 1944;

• “local social services authority” means the council of a non-metropolitan county, or of a metropolitan district or London borough, or the Common Council of the City of London;

• “medical” includes surgical;

• [F15 “medical practitioner” means a registered medical practitioner within the meaning of Schedule 1 to the M6 Interpretation Act 1978]

• “medicine” includes such chemical re-agents as are included in a list for the time being approved by the Secretary of State for the purposes of section 41 above;

• “modifications” includes additions, omissions and amendments;

• [F16 “NHS contract” has the meaning assigned by section 4(1) of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990;

• “National Health Service trust” has the meaning assigned by section 5 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 and “NHS trust” shall be construed accordingly]

• “officer” includes servant;

• [F17 “operational date”, in relation to an NHS trust, shall be construed in accordance with paragraph 3(1)(e) of Schedule 2 to the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990]

• “ophthalmic optician” means a person registered in either of the registers kept under [F18 section 7 of the Opticians Act 1989] of ophthalmic opticians or a body corporate enrolled in the list kept under [F19 section 9] of that Act of such bodies carrying on business as ophthalmic opticians;

• “patient” includes an expectant or nursing mother and a lying-in woman;

• [F20 “pharmaceutical services” has the meaning assigned by section 41 of this Act]

• “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State under this Act [F21 or Part I of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990];

• [F22 “primary functions” shall be construed in accordance with section 3 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990]

• “property” includes rights; . . . F5

• “registered pharmacist” means a pharmacist registered in the register of pharmaceutical chemists;

• “regulations” means regulations made by the Secretary of State under this Act [F23 or Part I of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990];

• “special hospital” has the meaning given by section 4 above;

• “superannuation benefits” means annual superannuation allowances, gratuities and periodical payments payable on retirement, death or incapacity, and similar benefits;

• “university” includes a university college;

• [F24 “voluntary organisation” means a body the activities of which are carried on otherwise than for profit, but does not include any public or local authority;]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F4

(2) References in this Act to the purposes of a hospital shall be construed as referring both to the general purposes of the hospital and to any specific purpose of the hospital.

(3) Any reference in this Act to any enactment is a reference to it as amended or applied by or under any other enactment including this Act.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words inserted by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 26(2)

F2 Definition substituted by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 26(2)(b)

F3 Definitions of “District Health Authority” and “health authority” in s. 128(1) omitted (28.6.1995 for specified purposes and otherwiseprosp.) by virtue of 1995 c. 17, ss. 2(1), 8(1), Sch. 1 para. 58(a) (with Sch. 2 para. 6) and repealed (prosp.) by 1995 c. 17, s. 5(1), Sch. 3 (with Sch. 2 para. 6)

F4 Definition repealed by Health Services Act 1980 (c. 53, SIF 113:2), Sch. 2, para. 10, Sch. 7

F5 Definition repealed by Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979 (c. 36, SIF 83:1), Sch. 7, para. 28, Sch. 8

F6 Words substituted by Dentists Act 1984 (c. 24, SIF 83:1), s. 54(1), Sch. 5 para. 9

F7 Definition inserted by Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983 (c. 41, SIF 113:3), s. 29(1), Sch. 9 Pt. I para. 22

F8 Definition of “fund-holding practice” in s. 128(1) inserted (28.6.1995 for specified purposes and otherwiseprosp.) by 1995 c. 17, s. 2(1), 8(1), Sch. 1 para. 58(b) (with Sch. 2 para. 6)

F9 Definition substituted by Health and Social Security Act 1984 (c. 48, SIF 113:1), s. 5(4), Sch. 3 para. 11

F10 Words inserted by Health Services Act 1980 (c. 53, SIF 113:2), Sch. 1, para. 77(c)

F11 Words inserted by Health Services Act 1980 (c. 53, SIF 113:2), Sch. 1, para. 77(d)

F12 Words inserted by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 26(2)(c)

F13 Words substituted by Mental Health Act 1983 (c. 20, SIF 85), s. 148, Sch. 4 para. 47(d)

F14 Words repealed by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), s. 102(2), Sch. 17

F15 Definition substituted by Medical Act 1983 (c. 54, SIF 83:1), s. 56(1), Sch. 5 para. 16(b)

F16 Definitions inserted (the insertion not being in force until 1.4.1991 so far as it relates to the definition of “NHS contract”) by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 26(2)(d)

F17 Definition inserted by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 26(2)(e)

F18 Words substituted by Opticians Act 1989 (c. 44, SIF 83:1), s. 37(1)(a)

F19 Words substituted by Opticians Act 1989 (c. 44, SIF 83:1), s. 37(1)(b)

F20 Definition inserted by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 26(2)(f)

F21 Words inserted by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 26(2)(g)

F22 Definition inserted (1.4.1991) by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 26(2)(h)

F23 Words inserted by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 26(2)(i)

F24 Definition substituted by Health Services Act 1980 (c. 53, SIF 113:2), Sch. 1, para. 77(e)

Marginal Citations

M1 1984 c. 24(83:1).

M2 1958 c. 32(83:1).

M3 1946 c. 81.

M4 1983 c. 20(85).

M5 1944 c. 31(41:1).

M6 1978 c. 30(115:1).