20 November 2003
1.These explanatory notes relate to the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act which received Royal Assent on 20th November 2003. They have been prepared by the Department of Health in order to assist the reader in understanding the Act. They do not form part of the Act and have not been endorsed by Parliament.
2.The explanatory notes need to be read in conjunction with the Act. They are not meant to be a comprehensive description of the Act. So where a section or part of a section of the Act does not seem to require any explanation or comment, none is given.
3.The majority of the Act extends to England and Wales with the exception of those provisions set out in section 202 which have a wider extent. Sections 124 and 125 allow CHAI and CSCI to carry out cross border inspections of health and social services in certain limited circumstances by arrangement with ministers. Part 3 of the Act relates to injury costs recovery extends to England, Wales and Scotland. Section 185 relates to the replacement of the Welfare Food Scheme and extends to England, Wales and Scotland. Section 186 allows similar provision to be made for Northern Ireland by means of an Order in Council. Sections 187, 188 and Schedule 12 of the Act relates to appointments to certain NHS bodies and extend to the whole of the UK as does Part 6 of the Act which contains final provisions.