National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006
| Act of Parliament | |
| Long title | An Act to consolidate certain enactments relating to the health service. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 2006 c. 42 |
| Territorial extent | England and Wales[2] |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 8 November 2006 |
| Commencement | 1 March 2007, subject to section 208[3] |
| History of passage through Parliament | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
The National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 (c. 42), sometimes known as the NHS (Wales) Act 2006[4] is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom relating to NHS Wales.
Provisions
It consolidates legislation relating to the National Health Service as it relates to Wales.[5]
The act devolved certain powers relating to health policy to the National Assembly for Wales.[5]
The act establishes local health boards and NHS trusts.[5] The act establishes mechanisms for improving the delivery of healthcare.[5] The act places certain requirements on local health boards to consult on closures of GP surgeries.[6] The Welsh Government can place local health boards into special measures under the act.[7] The act requires equitable, prompt and effective health service delivery.[8] The act requires that the healthcare be free at the point of delivery.[9]
Amendments
National Health Service Finance (Wales) Act 2014
| National Health Service Finance (Wales) Act 2014 | |
|---|---|
| Act of the National Assembly for Wales | |
| Long title | An Act of the National Assembly for Wales to make provision in relation to the financial duties of Local Health Boards. |
| Citation | 2014 anaw 2 |
| Introduced by | Mark Drakeford AM, Minister for Health and Social Services |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 27 January 2014 |
Status: Current legislation | |
| History of passage through the Assembly | |
| Text of the National Health Service Finance (Wales) Act 2014 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The 2006 act was amended by the National Health Service Finance (Wales) Act 2014 to require that each local health board ensure that its expenditure does not exceed its funding applied over a period of rolling window of three years beginning with each rather than just applying to each financial year.[10][11]
National Health Service (Indemnities) (Wales) Act 2020
| National Health Service (Indemnities) (Wales) Act 2020 | |
|---|---|
| Act of the National Assembly for Wales | |
| Long title | An Act of the National Assembly for Wales to amend the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 to make provision about indemnities in respect of expenses and liabilities arising in connection with the provision of health services. |
| Citation | 2014 anaw 2 |
| Introduced by | Vaughan Gething AM, Minister for Health and Social Services. |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 26 February 2020 |
Status: Current legislation | |
| History of passage through the Assembly | |
| Text of the National Health Service (Indemnities) (Wales) Act 2020 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The 2006 act was amended by the National Health Service (Indemnities) (Wales) Act 2020 to establish an indemnity scheme for GPs.[12] The indemnity scheme had first started in April 2019.[13]
Health Service Procurement (Wales) Act 2024
| Health Service Procurement (Wales) Act 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Senedd Cymru | |
| Long title | An Act of Senedd Cymru in relation to the procurement of health services in Wales. |
| Citation | 2024 asc 1 |
| Introduced by | Eluned Morgan MS, Minister for Health and Social Services |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 27 January 2014 |
Status: Current legislation | |
| History of passage through the Senedd | |
| Text of the Health Service Procurement (Wales) Act 2024 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The 2006 act was amended by the Health Service Procurement (Wales) Act 2024 to establish a new procurement regime for health services in Wales.[14] The act allows Wales to be aligned to a new procurement model in England.[14] Plaid Cymru criticised the legislation as "creeping privatisation".[15]
References
- Timothy H Jones. "National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006". Current Law Statutes Annotated 2006. Sweet & Maxwell. London. W Green. Edinburgh. 2006. Volume 2. Chapter 42. pp 42-1 to 42-173.
- Halsbury's Statutes
- ^ The citation of this Act by this short title is authorised by section 209(1) of this Act.
- ^ The National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006, section 209(2)
- ^ The National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006, section 208(1)
- ^ Shipton, Martin (30 May 2025). "Health board investigates case of patient forced to endure constant pain because of administrative blunders". Nation.Cymru. Archived from the original on 1 June 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ^ a b c d "National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 (2006 c 42)". LexisNexis. Archived from the original on 28 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ Wightwick, Abbie (14 May 2023). "Entire village marches in fury to demand their GP surgery isn't moved away". Wales Online. Archived from the original on 31 August 2025. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ^ Yarwood, Sam (8 June 2015). "Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board put in special measures". North Wales Live. Archived from the original on 31 August 2025. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ^ Shipton, Martin (30 May 2025). "Health board investigates case of patient forced to endure constant pain because of administrative blunders". Nation.Cymru. Archived from the original on 1 June 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "The Health and Social Care (Wales) Bill Series – Direct Payments for NHS Continuing Healthcare". Local Government Lawyer. 18 March 2025. Archived from the original on 31 August 2025. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ^ "Debate: National Health Service Finance Bill". Democracy Live. BBC News. 8 October 2013. Archived from the original on 28 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "What are the planning and escalation frameworks in the NHS in Wales?". NHS Confederation. 28 January 2025. Archived from the original on 29 January 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "Wales to introduce government-backed GP indemnity next year". Pulse Today. 14 May 2018. Archived from the original on 28 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "Wales confirms state-backed indemnity scheme will start in April". GP. 6 February 2019. Archived from the original on 31 August 2025. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ^ a b "MSs sign off on new Health Service Procurement bill". Nation.Cymru. 15 November 2023. Archived from the original on 28 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ Shipton, Martin (14 October 2023). "Welsh Labour is 'failing to protect public services from unscrupulous bidders' claims Plaid Cymru". Archived from the original on 28 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.