National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002

25 [F1The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care]U.K.

(1)There shall be a body corporate known as [F2the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care] (in this group of sections referred to as [F3“the Authority”]).

(2)The general functions of the [F4Authority] are—

(a)to promote the interests of [F5users of health care, users of social care in England, users of social work services in England] and other members of the public in relation to the performance of their functions by the bodies mentioned in subsection (3) (in this group of sections referred to as “regulatory bodies”), and by their committees and officers,

(b)to promote best practice in the performance of those functions,

(c)to formulate principles relating to good professional self-regulation, and to encourage regulatory bodies to conform to them, and

(d)to promote co-operation between regulatory bodies; and between them, or any of them, and other bodies performing corresponding functions.

[F6(2A)The main objective of the [F4Authority] in exercising its functions under subsection (2)(b) to (d) is to promote the health, safety and well-being of [F7users of health care, users of social care in England, users of social work services in England] and other members of the public.]

(3)The bodies referred to in subsection (2)(a) are—

(a)the General Medical Council,

(b)the General Dental Council,

(c)the General Optical Council,

(d)the General Osteopathic Council,

(e)the General Chiropractic Council,

[F8(f)the General Pharmaceutical Council,]

(g)subject to section 26(6), the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland,

[F9(ga)the Nursing and Midwifery Council,

(gb)[F10the Health and Care Professions Council] , and]

[F11(j)any other regulatory body (within the meaning of Schedule 3 to the 1999 Act) established by an Order in Council under section 60 of that Act.]

[F12(3A)A reference in an enactment to a body mentioned in subsection (3) is not (unless there is express provision to the contrary) to be read as including a reference to the Health and Care Professions Council, or a regulatory body within subsection (3)(j), so far as it has functions relating to—

(a)the social work profession in England, or

(b)social care workers in England.

(3B)For the purposes of subsection (3A)—

• “enactment” means an enactment contained in—

  (a)

  an Act, an Act of the Scottish Parliament or an Act or Measure of the National Assembly for Wales (whether passed before or after the commencement of this subsection), or

  (b)

  subordinate legislation (within the meaning of the Interpretation Act 1978), an instrument made under an Act of the Scottish Parliament, an Act or Measure of the National Assembly for Wales or Northern Ireland legislation (whether made before or after that commencement), and

• “the social work profession in England” and “social care workers in England” have the meaning given in section 60 of the 1999 Act.]

(4)Schedule 7 (which makes further provision about the [F13Authority]) is to have effect.

(5)“This group of sections” means this section and sections [F1426][F1425A] to 29, and includes Schedule 7.

(6)In this group of sections, references to regulation, in relation to a profession, are to be construed in accordance with paragraph 11(2) F15... of Schedule 3 to the 1999 Act.