# The Online National Health Service Trust (Establishment) Order 2026

S.I. 2026/530 · made 13 May 2026

This Order establishes a National Health Service trust called the Online National Health Service Trust (“the trust”).

Made under: National Health Service Act 2006 (Section 25, Section 272, Schedule 4 paragraph 5, Schedule 4 paragraph 7)

PDFs: Printed copy https://openlegislation.uk/online-national-health-service-trust-establishment-order-2026/pdf/uksi_20260530_en.pdf

## Introductory text

NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE, ENGLAND
Made 13th May 2026
Coming into force 1st June 2026
The Secretary of State makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 25(1) and 272(7), and paragraphs 5 and 7 of Schedule 4 to, the National Health Service Act 2006.
The Secretary of State makes this Order following the completion of the consultation prescribed under section 25(3) of the National Health Service Act 2006.

## 1 Citation, commencement, extent and application

(1) This Order may be cited as the Online National Health Service Trust (Establishment) Order 2026 and comes into force on 1st June 2026.
(2) This Order extends to England and Wales.
(3) This Order applies in relation to England only.

## 2 Interpretation

In this Order—
“Care Quality Commission” means the body established by section 1 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008;
“establishment date” means the date on which the trust is established under article 3;
“operational date” means the date specified in article 6(1);
“the trust” means the National Health Service trust established by article 3.

## 3 Establishment and name of the trust

There is established on 1st June 2026, a National Health Service trust which is called the Online National Health Service Trust.

## 4 Functions of the trust

The trust’s functions are to provide goods and services for the purposes of the health service.

## 5 Directors of the trust

The trust shall have, in addition to the chairman, 5 executive directors and 6 non-executive directors.

## 6 Operational date and accounting date of the trust

(1) The date specified as the operational date of the trust for the purposes of paragraph 5(5) of Schedule 4 to the National Health Service Act 2006 is 1st February 2027.
(2) The accounting date of the trust is 31st March.

## 7 Limited functions before operational date

Between the establishment date and the operational date the trust has the functions—
(a) of entering into NHS contracts;
(b) of entering into other contracts including contracts of employment;
(c) of preparing to register with the Care Quality Commission; and
(d) of doing such things as are reasonably necessary to enable it to begin to operate satisfactorily with effect from the operational date.

## Signature

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Karin Smyth
Minister of State
Department of Health and Social Care
13th May 2026

## Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order establishes a National Health Service trust called the Online National Health Service Trust (“the trust”).
The Order sets out the functions of the trust (article 4), the number of executive and non-executive directors of the trust (article 5), the operational date (the date on which the trust assumes all its functions), the accounting date of the trust (article 6), and the limited functions that the trust may carry out between its establishment and operational dates (article 7).
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, regulatory impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/530 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/online-national-health-service-trust-establishment-order-2026
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.