Search Legislation

National Health Service Act 2006

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

Changes to legislation:

National Health Service Act 2006, Cross Heading: Functions is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 19 April 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.

View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

FunctionsE+W

43[F1Provision of goods and services]E+W

[F2(1)The principal purpose of an NHS foundation trust is the provision of goods and services for the purposes of the health service in England.]

[F2(2)An NHS foundation trust may provide goods and services for any purposes related to—

(a)the provision of services provided to individuals for or in connection with the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of illness, and

(b)the promotion and protection of public health.]

[F2(2A)An NHS foundation trust does not fulfil its principal purpose unless, in each financial year, its total income from the provision of goods and services for the purposes of the health service in England is greater than its total income from the provision of goods and services for any other purposes.]

(3)[F3An] NHS foundation trust may also carry on activities other than those mentioned in [F4subsection (2)] F5... for the purpose of making additional income available in order better to carry on its principal purpose.

[F6(3A)Each annual report prepared by an NHS foundation trust must give information on the impact that income received by the trust otherwise than from the provision of goods and services for the purposes of the health service in England has had on the provision by the trust of goods and services for those purposes.

F7(3B). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F8(3C). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3D)An NHS foundation trust which proposes to increase by 5% or more the proportion of its total income in any financial year attributable to activities other than the provision of goods and services for the purposes of the health service in England may implement the proposal only if more than half of the members of the council of governors of the trust voting approve its implementation.]

F9(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F9(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F9(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F9(7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

44[F10Power to charge for accommodation etc.]E+W

F11(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F12(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F13(2A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F14(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F14(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F14(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6)According to the nature of its functions, an NHS foundation trust may, in the case of patients being provided with goods and services for the purposes of the health service, make accommodation or further services available for patients who give undertakings (or for whom undertakings are given) to pay any charges imposed by the NHS foundation trust in respect of the accommodation or services.

(7)An NHS foundation trust may exercise the power conferred by subsection (6) only to the extent that its exercise does not to any significant extent interfere with the performance by the NHS foundation trust of its functions.

F1545Protection of propertyE+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

46Financial powersE+W

(1)An NHS foundation trust may borrow money for the purposes of or in connection with its functions.

F16(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F16(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4)An NHS foundation trust may invest money (other than money held by it as trustee) for the purposes of or in connection with its functions.

(5)The investment may include investment by—

(a)forming, or participating in forming, bodies corporate,

(b)otherwise acquiring membership of bodies corporate.

(6)An NHS foundation trust may give financial assistance (whether by way of loan, guarantee or otherwise) to any person for the purposes of or in connection with its functions.

47General powersE+W

(1)An NHS foundation trust may do anything which appears to it to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of or in connection with its functions.

(2)In particular it may—

(a)acquire and dispose of property,

(b)enter into contracts,

(c)accept gifts of property (including property to be held on trust for the purposes of the NHS foundation trust or for any purposes relating to the health service),

(d)employ staff.

(3)Any power of the NHS foundation trust to pay remuneration and allowances to any person includes power to make arrangements for providing, or securing the provision of, pensions or gratuities (including those payable by way of compensation for loss of employment or loss or reduction of pay).

(4)The purposes of the NHS foundation trust” means the general or any specific purposes of the trust (including the purposes of any specific hospital at or from which services are provided by the trust).

[F1747AJoint exercise of functionsE+W

An NHS foundation trust may enter into arrangements for the carrying out, on such terms as the NHS foundation trust considers appropriate, of any of its functions jointly with any other person.]

Textual Amendments

[F1848InformationE+W

(1)The Secretary of State may require an NHS foundation trust to provide the Secretary of State with such information as the Secretary of State considers it necessary to have for the purposes of the functions of the Secretary of State in relation to the health service.

[F19(1A)An integrated care board may require any of its partner NHS foundation trusts to provide it with any information that it requires.]

(2)[F20Information required under this section must be provided in such form, and at such time or within such period, as may be specified by the person imposing the requirement.]]

F2149Entry and inspection of premisesE+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

[F2250FeesE+W

An NHS foundation trust must pay to [F23NHS England] such fee as [F23NHS England] may determine in respect of its exercise of functions under—

(a)section 39;

(b)section 39A.]

F2451Trust funds and trusteesE+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

[F2551ASignificant transactionsE+W

(1)An NHS foundation trust may enter into a significant transaction only if more than half of the members of the council of governors of the trust voting approve entering into the transaction.

(2)Significant transaction” means a transaction or arrangement of such description as may be specified in the trust's constitution.

(3)If an NHS foundation trust does not wish to specify any descriptions of transaction or arrangement for the purposes of subsection (2), the constitution of the trust must specify that it contains no such descriptions.]

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

You have chosen to open The Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act as a PDF

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules as a PDF

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Part

The Whole Part you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Part as a PDF

The Whole Part you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Act without Schedules

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open Schedules only

The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources