These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (Procurement, Patient Choice and Competition) Regulations 2013 and come into force on 1st April 2013.

In these Regulations—

• “the 2006 Act” means the National Health Service Act 20062;

• “the 2012 Regulations” means the National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 20123;

• “the Board” means the National Health Service Commissioning Board4;

• “CCG” means clinical commissioning group5;

• “patient” has the same meaning as in the 2006 Act6;

• “provider” means a person who provides health care services for the purposes of the NHS7, or is interested in doing so;

• “relevant body” means a CCG or the Board.

References to a “contract” in these Regulations include an NHS contract (which has the same meaning as in section 9 of the 2006 Act).

These Regulations do not apply in respect of pharmaceutical services, including local pharmaceutical services, under Part 7 of the 2006 Act.