Special Health Authority Time Limits
The 2012 Act amended the 2006 Act to require that, where Special Health Authorities (SpHAs) are set up after 2012, their establishment orders must provide for their expiry within three years of their establishment. Variations could be made to that expiry date, but only to extend it for a maximum of three years at a time. The Act removes the three-year time limit for all SpHAs.
	This time limit is deemed no longer necessary, as ministers intend the functions of all SpHAs to be enduring. The amendment also ensures that SpHAs established after 2012 (only the NHS Counter Fraud Authority at the point of these provisions coming into force), and those established before that date, are no longer in different positions. By removing this time limit, all SpHAs will be treated equally in legislation.