Commentary on Sections Part 3 - Health National Functions Section 99 – Quality improvement in education and training, etc.
606.Subsection (1) provides that HEE must exercise its functions with a view to securing continuous improvement in the quality of education and training provided to healthcare workers and in the quality of NHS services. The professional regulators such as the General Medical Council set the standards for health professionals to be registered to practise in the UK. In commissioning education and training, HEE and the LETBs must build on these standards and will work with education providers to ensure that the provision of education and training continually improves in quality and delivers health professionals who are fit for purpose and meet the needs of employers in the NHS and their patients and service users.
607.Subsection (2) provides that HEE must, in exercising its functions, promote research into the activities listed in section 63(2) of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968, such as primary dental or medical services, in so far as they are relevant to HEE’s functions. HEE may do this by, for example, working closely with organisations such as the Academic Health Science Centres and Academic Health Science Networks. HEE must also promote the use of evidence obtained from this research.
608.Subsections (3) and (4) require HEE to have regard to the NHS Constitution and promote the NHS Constitution in carrying out its functions.