{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/national-health-service-act-2006/section-56",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/national-health-service-act-2006/section-56.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2006/41",
  "legislation_title": "National Health Service Act 2006",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/national-health-service-act-2006",
  "path": "section/56",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "56",
  "heading": "Mergers",
  "text": "(1) An application may be made jointly by—\n(a) an NHS foundation trust, and\n(b) another NHS foundation trust or an NHS trust established under section 25,\nto NHS England for the dissolution of the trusts and the establishment of a new NHS foundation trust.\n(1A) An application under this section may be made only with the approval of more than half of the members of the council of governors of each applicant (that is an NHS foundation trust).\n(2) The application must—\n(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(b) specify the property and liabilities proposed to be transferred to the new NHS foundation trust,\n(c) ...and\n(d) be accompanied by a copy of the proposed constitution of the new trust,\n...\n(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(4) NHS England must grant the application if—\n(a) it is satisfied that such steps as are necessary to prepare for the dissolution of the trusts and the establishment of the new trust have been taken, and\n(b) the Secretary of State approves the grant of the application,\nand must otherwise refuse the application.\n(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(11) On the grant of the application, the proposed constitution of the NHS foundation trust has effect, but the directors of the applicants may exercise the functions of the trust on its behalf until a board of directors is appointed in accordance with the constitution.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 56(1)(b) inserted (1.4.2013) by Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), ss. 168(1)(a), 306(4); S.I. 2013/671, art. 2(3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 56(1) substituted (1.7.2022) by Health and Care Act 2022 (c. 31), s. 186(6), Sch. 5 para. 18; S.I. 2022/734, reg. 2(a), Sch. (with regs. 13, 29, 30)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 56(1) substituted (1.4.2013) by Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), ss. 168(1)(b), 306(4); S.I. 2013/671, art. 2(3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "S. 56(1A) inserted (1.4.2013) by Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), ss. 168(2), 306(4); S.I. 2013/671, art. 2(3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "S. 56(2)(a) omitted (1.7.2022) by virtue of Health and Care Act 2022 (c. 31), ss. 65(2)(a), 186(6); S.I. 2022/734, reg. 2(a), Sch. (with regs. 13, 29, 30)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "S. 56(2)(c) omitted (1.4.2013) by virtue of Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), ss. 168(3)(a), 306(4); S.I. 2013/671, art. 2(3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in s. 56(2) omitted (1.4.2013) by virtue of Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), ss. 168(3)(b), 306(4); S.I. 2013/671, art. 2(3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "S. 56(3) omitted (1.4.2013) by virtue of Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), ss. 168(4), 306(4); S.I. 2013/671, art. 2(3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "S. 56(4) substituted (1.7.2022) by Health and Care Act 2022 (c. 31), ss. 65(2)(b), 186(6); S.I. 2022/734, reg. 2(a), Sch. (with regs. 13, 29, 30)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "S. 56(5)-(10) omitted (1.4.2013) by virtue of Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), ss. 168(6), 306(4); S.I. 2013/671, art. 2(3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "Words in s. 56(11) substituted (1.4.2013) by Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), ss. 168(7), 306(4); S.I. 2013/671, art. 2(3)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/41/section/56",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:13:55.183741+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}