{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/national-health-service-scotland-act-1978/section-78",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/national-health-service-scotland-act-1978/section-78.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1978/29",
  "legislation_title": "National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/national-health-service-scotland-act-1978",
  "path": "section/78",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "78",
  "heading": "Emergency powers.",
  "text": "If the Secretary of State is of the opinion that an emergency exists, and thinks it necessary in order to secure the effective continuance of any service under this Act or under the 2021 Act, he shall have power to direct that any function conferred by or under this Act, or by or under the 2021 Act, on any body or person shall, during the period of the emergency, be performed by such other body or person as he may specify in the direction.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 78 inserted (1.4.2022) by Forensic Medical Services (Victims of Sexual Offences) (Scotland) Act 2021 (asp 3), s. 20(2), sch. para. 1(9)(a) (with s. 3); S.S.I. 2022/24, reg. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 78 inserted (1.4.2022) by Forensic Medical Services (Victims of Sexual Offences) (Scotland) Act 2021 (asp 3), s. 20(2), sch. para. 1(9)(b) (with s. 3); S.S.I. 2022/24, reg. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 78 modified (1.10.1998) by 1997 c. 46, s. 41(10), Sch. Pt. I paras. 32, 52; S.I. 1998/1998, art. 2(2)(b) Sch. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "S. 78 modified (1.4.2012) by Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 5), ss. 21(1), 26(3) (with ss. 18(3), 20); S.S.I. 2012/35, art. 2(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C3",
      "text": "S. 78 extended by Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 36, SIF 85), ss. 17(2), 91(2), Sch. 1 para. 8(b)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1978/29/section/78",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-31T10:30:48.038600+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."
}