Health and Care Act 2022

127 Assistance of NHS bodies

(1) The HSSIB must comply with—

(a) any request by a relevant NHS body to provide it with assistance in connection with the carrying out of investigations into incidents occurring during the provision of NHS services or occurring at premises at which NHS services are provided;

(b) any request by NHS England to provide any other relevant NHS body with such assistance;

(c) any request by the Secretary of State to provide a relevant NHS body with such assistance.

(2) In subsection (1) “relevant NHS body” means—

(a) an NHS foundation trust;

(b) an NHS trust;

(c) NHS England;

(d) an integrated care board.

(3) For the purposes of this section giving assistance includes—

(a) disseminating information about best practice,

(b) developing standards to be adopted, and

(c) giving advice, guidance or training.

(4) Subsection (1) does not apply if—

(a) the assistance requested is giving advice, guidance or training, and

(b) the HSSIB determines that it is impracticable for it to give the assistance.

(5) The HSSIB may give assistance to a person other than a relevant NHS body in relation to any matter connected with the carrying out of investigations if the HSSIB has been requested to provide the assistance by the person to whom it is to be given.

(6) But the HSSIB may give assistance under subsection (5) only to the extent that the assistance does not to any significant extent interfere with the exercise by the HSSIB of its investigation function.

(7) The activities which the HSSIB may carry out in, or in connection with, giving assistance under subsection (5) are not restricted to activities carried out in the United Kingdom.

(8) The HSSIB may impose charges for or in connection with giving assistance under subsection (5).

(9) Charges under subsection (8) may be calculated on the basis that the HSSIB considers to be the appropriate commercial basis.