(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order brings into force certain provisions of the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 in relation to Wales.

The Order provides for the commencement of provisions which:—

a

enable the National Assembly to establish Local Health Boards and to confer functions on the newly established Boards (section 6);

b

establish a mechanism for the funding of Local Health Boards and impose certain financial duties in respect of expenditure and resource limits on the Boards (section 9);

c

enable the National Assembly to make regulations in respect of the status, constitution, membership and ancillary functions of Local Health Boards (Schedule 4) and introduce technical and consequential changes to existing legislation (Schedule 5);

d

preserve the existing arrangements for the funding of NHS bodies in Wales pending the abolition of Welsh Health Authorities, provide for the definition of Part 1 and Part 2 expenditure of Local Health Boards to mirror that currently applicable to Health Authorities and allow for the apportionment of remuneration attributable to the cost of drugs between Local Health Boards (section 10);

e

require joint working between NHS bodies and the prison service with a view to securing and maintaining the health of prisoners (section 23);

f

impose a duty on each local authority and each Local Health Board any part of whose area lies within the area of the local authority to jointly formulate and implement a strategy for the health and well-being of members of the public in the local authority’s area (section 24);

g

make minor consequential amendments and repeals (section 37).