Commentary on Sections Part 2 –Standards Supplementary Section 68: Power to require documents and information
178.Section 68 confers on the CHAI a general power to require information and documents from the bodies or persons listed in subsection (2) irrespective of whether or not the CHAI is conducting an inspection, where such information relates to the provision of health care by or for an NHS body or the discharge of functions of an NHS body and where the CHAI considers it necessary or expedient to have the information or documents for its purposes under this Chapter.
179.Subsection (2)(c) gives the CHAI the right to require information or documents from a local authority. This will enable the CHAI to obtain information or documents kept by a local authority for its own purposes, where that information is relevant to the exercise of the CHAI’s functions under this Chapter. For example, the CHAI might request information as to how quickly the local authority responds to requests by an NHS trust to assess the social services needs of persons ready to be discharged from hospital.