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Removing or suspending chairs and non-executives of health bodies: consultation on introducing new powers of suspension

This is a consultation document on proposals to introduce powers of suspension,  and a single approach to the removal of chairs and non-executives of Strategic Health Authorities and other health bodies.

The consultation on removing or suspending chairs and non-executives of Health Bodies sets out a single approach to considering whether and if so how, a chair or non-executive member of a Strategic Health Authority (SHA), Special Health Authority (SpHA) or Health Body should be removed from office. The process may involve either seeking resignation or the termination of appointment and also introduces the potential use of a suspension function, as well as proposals for temporary non-executive member(s) or director(s) to be appointed during the period of suspension.

These proposals represent the second phase of a programme to introduce a legal framework for the Secretary of State to direct the Appointments Commission (AC) to suspend chairs and non-executive members or directors from office.

The first phase involved introducing powers of suspension to chairs and non-executives of Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and NHS Trusts. Following a separate consultation and amendments to regulations, the Secretary of State directed the AC to operate a new suspension function for chairs and non-executives of NHS Trusts and PCTs from 16 June 2008.
Now in phase two, this consultation sets out proposals to extend powers of suspension to chairs and non-executive members of SHAs, SpHAs and other Health Bodies.

The consultation will run for 12 weeks and the deadline to respond with feedback is 09 October 2008.

• Download Consultation document (PDF, 243K)
• Download Impact assessment (PDF, 90K)