Part 1: Health Service in England: Integration, Collaboration and Other Changes Competition Section 83: Mergers of providers: removal of CMA powers
This section amends the NHS Act 2006 to insert a new Section 72A after Section 72.
	Section 72A, subsection (1) exempts the merger of two or more relevant NHS enterprises from the merger control regime under Part 3 of the Enterprise Act 2002.
	Section 72A, subsection (2) clarifies that the merger of two or more relevant enterprises (e.g. NHS foundation trusts) with one or more enterprises that are not relevant NHS enterprises (e.g., a private healthcare provider) is still in scope of the merger control regime.
	Section 72A, subsection (3) defines relevant NHS enterprise as the activities, or part of the activities, of an NHS trust or an NHS foundation trust.
	This section also repeals section 79 of the 2012 Act, which specifies that mergers involving NHS foundation trusts do fall within the scope of the merger regime in part 3 of the Enterprise Act 2002.
	NHS England, as the national regulator, will continue to review proposed transactions, including mergers or acquisitions, to ensure there are clear patient benefits.