Commentary The Health Adviser and the Deputy Health Advisers Section 21: The Health Adviser and the Deputy Health Advisers
50.This section inserts into the GLA Act 1999 a new section 309A to provide for there to be a Health Adviser to the Authority. It will be the function of the Health Adviser to advise the Authority, the Mayor, any Assembly member and any functional body on major health issues, the performance of any person’s health-related functions and the implementation of the provisions of the 1999 Act which impose duties relating to health inequalities between persons living in London.
51.This section also inserts into the GLA Act 1999 a new section 309B which provides for the current Regional Director of Public Health (RDPH) (for London) to be the Health Adviser. If the post of RDPH for London ceases to exist, the section provides for the Health Adviser to be the person in the post which corresponds, or most closely corresponds, to that of RDPH for London. If there is a question as to which of two or more persons is to be the Health Adviser, the Secretary of State may designate one of them to be the Health Adviser. If there ceases to be an RDPH or corresponding post, the Secretary of State is to appoint the Health Adviser from among persons within the civil service or NHS who hold senior posts in which they have strategic responsibilities for public health in Greater London. Following such an appointment, if the person ceases to hold such a post, he also ceases to be the Health Adviser.
52.This section also inserts into the GLA Act 1999 a new section 309C to make provision for there to be one or more Deputy Health Advisers. If there is a vacancy in the post of Health Adviser or if the Health Adviser is incapable of discharging his functions, one of the Deputy Health Advisers will be appointed to exercise the Health Adviser’s functions. The Health Adviser’s functions are exercisable by any Deputy Health Adviser to the extent that the Health Adviser authorises, and subject to any conditions.
53.This section also inserts into the GLA Act 1999 a new section 309D to provide for the Deputy RDPHs (for London) to be the Deputy Health Advisers to the Authority. If the post of Deputy RDPH for London ceases to exist, the Deputy Health Advisers are to be the persons in the posts which correspond, or most closely correspond, to that of Deputy RDPH. If there is a question as to which of two or more persons are to be the Deputy Health Advisers the Secretary of State may designate one or more to be the Deputy Health Advisers. If there ceases to be a Deputy RDPH or corresponding post, the Secretary of State is to appoint one or more Deputy Health Advisers from among persons within the civil service or NHS who hold senior posts in which they have strategic responsibilities for public health in Greater London. Following such an appointment, if the person ceases to hold such a post, he also ceases to be a Deputy Health Adviser.