The NHS Direct (Establishment and Constitution) Order 2004

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order provides for the establishment and constitution of a Special Health Authority, to be known as NHS Direct (“the Authority”), to exercise functions in connection with the provision of health related information and advice and such other functions as the Secretary of State may direct it to perform. The functions of the Authority have previously been carried out by the Department of Health and 22 National Health Service trusts under the name of NHS Direct.

Article 2 of the Order establishes the Authority, the functions of which are described in article 3 and are to be specified more particularly in directions given by the Secretary of State. Provision is also made for the constitution of the Authority (article 4), for the remuneration of its members (article 5), for the admission of the public to meetings (article 6), for the transfer of rights and liabilities (article 7) and the transfer of property (article 8) and officers (article 9). A copy of the document referred to in article 8 is available from the Department of Health, Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS2 7UE.