Commentary on provisions of Act Combined and local authorities: governance, constitution and functions etc Section 18: Devolving health service functions
Section 18 requires that the Secretary of State responsible for such services must retain specified core duties in relation to the health service, and continue to be able to fulfil his statutory duties conferred by existing legislation notwithstanding any transfer of functions under section 16 or section 105A of the 2009 Act. It also requires that the combined authority or other public body to whom the functions are transferred should adhere to national standards and accountabilities which are attached to those functions under existing legislation, which must be set out in the order. There is no restriction on a transfer order imposing on a combined authority or local authority transferee duties and obligations on matters set out in sections 1 to 1Fof the National Health Service Act 2006.
	This section describes what is and is not within scope of the transfer powers, and defines "national service standards", "national information obligations", and "health service". This section also confirms that a transfer order may impose on a combined authority or local authority transferee duties relating to duties set out in section 1 to 1F in the National Health Service Act 2006.