(1)This section applies where, following such a review or investigation as is mentioned in section 53(1), the CHAI—
(a)is of the view that any provisions of a code of practice issued under section 47A and applying to an English NHS body or a cross-border SHA are not being observed in any material respect in relation to the provision of health care by or for the body, but
(b)having regard to all the circumstances, is not of the view that it is required to make a report under section 53(2) (or, if relevant, section 53(6)).
(2)The CHAI may serve a notice under this section (an “improvement notice”) on the body in respect of the failure to observe the code, if it considers that serving the notice is the most appropriate course of action for it to take with a view to securing that the failure is remedied.
(3)An improvement notice must—
(a)state that the CHAI has formed the view mentioned in subsection (1)(a) in relation to the provision of health care by or for the body, giving particulars of the material respect in which the CHAI considers that the provisions of the code are not being observed as mentioned in that subsection,
(b)state the CHAI's reasons for its view, and
(c)require the body to remedy the failure to observe the code, and to do so within such period as is specified in the notice.
(4)An improvement notice may (but need not) include a recommendation by the CHAI as to the way in which the failure should be remedied.
(5)An improvement notice may relate to more than one failure within subsection (1)(a), and in such a case—
(a)subsections (2) to (4) and section 53B apply separately in relation to each such failure, but
(b)any report required by that section may relate to more than one such failure.
(6)Where the CHAI serves an improvement notice on a body under this section, the CHAI must notify the Secretary of State and—
(a)the regulator, if the body is an NHS foundation trust, and
(b)any relevant Strategic Health Authority, if the body is a Primary Care Trust or an NHS trust.
(7)In this section and section 53B “relevant Strategic Health Authority” means—
(a)in relation to a Primary Care Trust, any Strategic Health Authority whose area includes any part of the Trust's area;
(b)in relation to an NHS Trust (other than one responsible for providing ambulance services), the Strategic Health Authority in whose area all or most of the Trust's hospitals, establishments or facilities are situated;
(c)in relation to an NHS Trust responsible for providing ambulance services, the Strategic Health Authority in whose area the headquarters establishment responsible for the control of those services is situated.
(8)Subsection (9) applies where—
(a)an improvement notice is served on a body in respect of a particular failure to observe a code of practice issued under section 47A, and
(b)a review under section 52(3)(b) is conducted by the CHAI in pursuance of section 53B(4)(a) with a view to assessing the body's compliance with the notice.
(9)In such a case subsection (1)—
(a)does not apply in relation to that review so as to enable the CHAI to serve a further improvement notice on that body in respect of that failure; but
(b)does apply in relation to that review so as to enable the CHAI (if the conditions in subsections (1) and (2) are satisfied) to serve an improvement notice on that body in respect of a different failure to observe the code.]
Textual Amendments
F1Ss. 53A, 53B inserted (1.10.2006) by Health Act 2006 (c. 28), ss. 16, 83(7); S.I. 2006/2603, art. 2