National Health Service Act 1977

128 Interpretation and construction

(1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears—

• " the Central Council " means the Central Health Services Council referred to in section 6 above;

• " certified midwife " means a person who is for the time being certified under the [1951 c. 53.] Midwives Act 1951;

• "dental practitioner " means a person registered in the dentists register under the [1957 c. 28.] Dentists Act 1957;

• " dispensing optician " means a person who is registered in the register kept under section 2 of the [1958 c. 32.] 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 " includes powers and duties ;

• " health authority " means a Regional or Area Health Authority or a special health authority ;

• " the health service " means the health service established in pursuance of section 1(1) above;

• "health service hospital " means a hospital vested in the Secretary of State under this Act;

• " Health Services Board " means the body established by section 1 of the [1976 c. 83.] Health Services Act 1976 ;

• " 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 the [1959 c. 72.] Mental Health Act 1959 and any injury or disability requiring medical or dental treatment or nursing;

• " local authority " means a county council, the Greater London Council, 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 [1944 c. 31.] 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;

• " medical practitioner " means a fully registered person within the meaning of the [1956 c. 76.] Medical Act 1956 ;

• " 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;

• " officer " includes servant;

• " ophthalmic optician " means a person registered in either of the registers kept under section 2 of the [1958 c. 32.] Opticians Act 1958 of ophthalmic opticians or a body corporate enrolled in the list kept under section 4 of that Act of such bodies carrying on business as ophthalmic opticians;

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

• " prescribed " means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State under this Act;

• " property " includes rights ;

• " registered nurse " means a nurse registered in the register of nurses established under the [1919 c. 94.] Nurses Registration Act 1919 and maintained in pursuance of section 2(1) of the [1957 c. 15.] Nurses Act 1957;

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

• " regulations " means regulations made by the Secretary of State under this Act;

• " 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 ;

• " voluntary " means not carried on for profit and not provided by a local or public authority ;

• " Welsh Committee " means the committee constituted under section 1(3) of the [1976 c. 83.] Health Services Act 1976.

(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.