Explanatory note

This Order establishes the Mersey Care National Health Service Trust as an NHS trust, provided for in section 5 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990.

The Order provides for the functions of the trust (article 3) and the number of executive and non-executive directors (article 4). It specifies the operational date (the date on which the trust assumes all its functions), and the accounting date of the trust (article 5).

The new trust will provide certain services currently provided by the Aintree Hospitals, the North Mersey Community, and the North Sefton & West Lancashire Community National Health Service Trusts, and, at a date to be determined, certain services currently provided by the St Helens and Knowsley Hospital Services National Health Service Trust.

Furthermore, subject to approval under paragraphs 10(2) and (3) of Schedule 2 to the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990, the management of certain functions, and of certain high security psychiatric services currently provided by Ashworth Special Health Authority at Ashworth Hospital will be undertaken by the new trust.

This Order is to be read in conjunction with the North Mersey Community National Health Service Trust (Establishment) Amendment Order 2001^f1, and the North Sefton & West Lancashire Community National Health Service Trust (Establishment) Amendment Order 2001^f2.