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. 4) Order 2003.

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

(3) Article 2 extends to England and Wales.

(4) Articles 3 and 4 extend to the whole of the United Kingdom.

Appointed day for provision relating to the National Health Service

2.  1st April 2003 is the day appointed for the coming into force of paragraph 16(6) of Schedule 2 to the Act (reallocation of functions of Health Authorities to Primary Care Trusts) and, in so far as it relates to that paragraph, paragraph 1 of that Schedule.

Appointed day for provisions relating to appeals

3.  Subject to article 4, 1st April 2003 is the day appointed for the coming into force of—

(a)sections 30 to 34 of the Act (appeals);

(b)paragraphs 13 to 17 of Schedule 8 to the Act (minor and consequential amendments) and, in so far as it relates to those paragraphs, section 37(1) of the Act; and

(c)Part 2 of Schedule 9 to the Act (repeals) and, in so far as it relates to that Part, section 37(2) of the Act.

Saving provisions

4.—(1) The amendments made by the provisions specified in article 3 shall not have effect in relation to cases where—

(a)a person has made an appeal pursuant to the provisions specified in paragraph (2) within the appeal period, but where that appeal has not been finally determined before 1st April 2003; or

(b)a person’s appeal period has not ended before 1st April 2003 (in relation to a decision notified to that person before that date) and where there is a right of appeal in relation to that decision pursuant to the provisions specified in paragraph (2).

(2) The provisions specified for the purposes of paragraph (1) are those where there is an appeal to—

(a)Her Majesty in Council or the Privy Council (as the case may be), pursuant to—

(i)section 40 of the Medical Act 1983(2),

(ii)section 29 or section 44 of the Dentists Act 1984(3),

(iii)section 23 of the Opticians Act 1989(4),

(iv)section 10 or section 31 of the Osteopaths Act 1993(5), or

(v)section 10 or section 31 of the Chiropractors Act 1994(6); or

(b)the Court of Session in Scotland, the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland or the High Court of Justice in England and Wales (as the case may be), pursuant to—

(i)section 29 of the Osteopaths Act 1993, or

(ii)section 29 of the Chiropractors Act 1994.

(3) In paragraph (1), “appeal period” means the period within which a person is permitted to appeal against a decision to—

(a)Her Majesty in Council or the Privy Council (as the case may be), pursuant to the provisions specified in paragraph (2)(a); or

(b)the Court of Session in Scotland, the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland or the High Court of Justice in England and Wales (as the case may be), pursuant to the provisions specified in paragraph (2)(b).

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order is the fourth 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 April 2003 an amendment in Schedule 2 to the Act which inserts references to Primary Care Trusts in section 42(4A) of the 1977 Act.

Article 3 brings into force on 1st April 2003 sections 30 to 34 of the Act (and associated amendments and repeals) which make amendments relating to rights of appeal in fitness to practice cases and against certain registration decisions. Article 4 makes saving provisions in relation to cases where an appeal has been made but not finally determined before 1st April 2003 or where the appeal period has not ended before 1st April 2003.

Note as to Earlier Commencement Orders

(This note is not part of the Order)