National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1972

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{{Infobox UK legislation

|short_title = National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1972

|type = Act

|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.

|year = 1972

|statute_book_chapter = 1972 c. 58

|introduced_by = Baroness Tweedsmuir of Belhelvie

|territorial_extent = Scotland (except amendments to the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1957)

|royal_assent = 9 August 1972

|commencement =

|repeal_date =

|amendments =

|related_legislation =

|repealing_legislation=

|status = Amended

|original_text = http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1972/58/enacted

|legislation_history =

|use_new_UK-LEG = yes

|revised_text = http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1972/58

}}

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

The act imposed duties on the Secretary of State for Scotland relating to the provision of health services and education,Part I and established 15 Health Boards and local health committeesPart II as part of a reorganisation that dissolved multiple previous bodies including the Regional Hospital Boards, Boards of Management and Executive Councils.s. 24 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.{{cite web |url=https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk/datasets/a-beginners-guide-to-uk-geography-2023/about |title=A Beginners Guide to UK Geography (2023) |author= |date=24 August 2023 |website=Open Geography Portal |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=9 December 2023}} Responsibility for community health services was also transferred from local authorities.

The act established the post of Health Service Commissioner for Scotland,Part VII, s. 42 a role held alongside that of the equivalent posts for England and Wales{{snd}}which were established by the National Health Service Reorganisation Act the following year{{snd}}by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.

The act also established the Scottish Health Service Planning Council,s. 17 and a Common Services Agency for the Scottish Health Service.s. 19

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