National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002

1 English Health Authorities: change of name

(1) On and after the date on which this section comes into force, Health Authorities for areas in England are to be known instead as Strategic Health Authorities.

(2) Accordingly, for section 8 of the National Health Service Act 1977 (c. 49) (in this Act referred to as “the 1977 Act”) (establishment and abolition of Health Authorities) there is substituted—

“8 Health Authorities and Strategic Health Authorities

(1) It is the duty of the Secretary of State to establish, in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 5 to this Act, authorities to be called—

(a) Strategic Health Authorities, in the case of authorities established for areas in England;

(b) Health Authorities, in the case of authorities established for areas in Wales.

(2) Subject to subsection (4) below—

(a) a Strategic Health Authority shall be established for such area of England as is specified in the order establishing the authority; and

(b) a Health Authority shall be established for such area of Wales as is so specified, or, if the order so provides, for the whole of Wales.

(3) A Strategic Health Authority or a Health Authority shall be known by such name, in addition to the title “Strategic Health Authority” or “Health Authority”, as—

(a) appears to the Secretary of State appropriately to signify the connection of the authority with the area for which they are established; and

(b) is specified in the order establishing the authority.

(4) The Secretary of State may by order—

(a) vary the area of a Strategic Health Authority or Health Authority;

(b) abolish a Strategic Health Authority or Health Authority;

(c) establish a new Strategic Health Authority or Health Authority;

(d) change the name by which a Strategic Health Authority or Health Authority are known.

(5) No order shall be made under this section relating to a Strategic Health Authority until after the completion of such consultation as may be prescribed.

(6) Consultation requirements contained in regulations under subsection (5) are in addition to, and not in substitution for, any other consultation requirements which may apply.

(7) The Secretary of State shall act under this section so as to ensure—

(a) that the areas for which Strategic Health Authorities are at any time established together comprise the whole of England;

(b) that the areas for which Health Authorities are at any time established together comprise the whole of Wales; and

(c) that no area for which a Strategic Health Authority or a Health Authority are established extends both into England and into Wales.

(8) The power to make incidental or supplemental provision conferred by section 126(4) below includes, in particular, in its application to orders made under this section, power to make provision for the transfer of staff, property, rights and liabilities.”

(3) Schedule 1 (which contains amendments consequential upon this section) is to have effect.