The Scottish Government Public Health Act Implementation Team reports that Ministers have approved the accelerated implementation of some key provisions of the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008. Parts 3, 4, 5, 6 (and relevant parts of Part 10) will now commence on 1st October 2009. The decision to accelerate the implementation was taken in the light of the current influenza AH1N1 outbreak and the possibility of a second wave later in the year.
Bringing forward the implementation of these provisions has implications for Part 1, in particular, the reduction in the timeframe to appointment health board and local authority competent persons. Further advice on this will be issued by the Scottish Government.
Full details on the implementation of the Act are available on the Scottish Government website www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/NHSScotland/publicact
