Citation, interpretation and extent

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 (Commencement No. 6) Order 2003.

(2) In this Order “the Act” means the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002.

(3) The extent of the amendment made by Article 3 is the same as that of the enactment amended.

Appointed day

2.  1st September 2003 is the day appointed for the coming into force of—

(a)sections 15 to 19 of the Act (patients' forums) in so far as they are not already in force(2); and

(b)in so far as it is not already in force, paragraph 10 of Schedule 8 to the Act (minor and consequential amendments) and, in so far as they relate to that paragraph, paragraph 1 of that Schedule and section 37(1) of the Act.

Supplementary provision

3.  In Part 2 of Schedule 1 to the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975(3) (bodies of which all members are disqualified), the following entry is inserted at the appropriate place—

• “A Patients' Forum established under section 15 of the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002.”.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order is the sixth commencement order made by the Secretary of State under the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 (“the Act”). One Order has also been made by the National Assembly for Wales.

Article 2 brings into force on 1st September 2003 sections 15 to 19 of the Act, which are concerned with the establishment and functions of Patients' Forums in England, together with two minor and consequential amendments to section 126 (orders and regulations and directions) of the National Health Service Act 1977. Paragraph 10(b) of Schedule 8 to the Act was brought into force in relation to Wales on 10th October 2002.

Article 3 amends the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 to add Patients' Forums established under section 15 of the Act to the list of bodies whose members are disqualified from membership of the House of Commons.

Note as to Earlier Commencement Orders

(This note is not part of the Order)