National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1972

The National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1972 (c. 58) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1972

Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to make further provision as respects the health service in Scotland, and for connected purposes.
Citation	1972 c. 58
Introduced by	Baroness Tweedsmuir of Belhelvie
Territorial extent	Scotland (except amendments to the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1957)
Dates
Royal assent	9 August 1972
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended
Text of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1972 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The act imposed duties on the Secretary of State for Scotland relating to the provision of health services and education,^[1] and established 15 Health Boards and local health committees^[2] as part of a reorganisation that dissolved multiple previous bodies including the Regional Hospital Boards, Boards of Management and Executive Councils.^[3] The Health Boards covered groups of local government districts and island councils that existed between 1975 and 1996. They formed the upper tier of the Scottish health care system.^[4] Responsibility for community health services was also transferred from local authorities.

The act established the post of Health Service Commissioner for Scotland,^[5] a role held alongside that of the equivalent posts for England and Wales – which were established by the National Health Service Reorganisation Act the following year – by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.

The act also established the Scottish Health Service Planning Council,^[6] and a Common Services Agency for the Scottish Health Service.^[7]

A similar system was established in England and Wales under the National Health Service Reorganisation Act 1973 which also amended the 1972 Act.