{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/patient-rights-scotland-act-2011/section-23",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/patient-rights-scotland-act-2011/section-23.json",
  "legislation": "asp/2011/5",
  "legislation_title": "Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/patient-rights-scotland-act-2011",
  "path": "section/23",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "23",
  "heading": "Interpretation",
  "text": "(1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears—\n“the 1978 Act” means the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 (c. 29);\n“the 2021 Act” means the Forensic Medical Services (Victims of Sexual Offences) (Scotland) Act 2021;\n“the Agency” has the meaning given by section 5(2)(c);\n“the Charter” means the Charter of Patient Rights and Responsibilities published under section 1;\n“health care” means services provided under the health service or under the 2021 Act;\n“health care principles” has the meaning given by section 6(1);\n“the health service” means the health service established in pursuance of section 1 of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1947 (c. 27);\n“health service function” means\n(a) any function under or by virtue of the 1978 Act which is a function concerned with, or connected to, the health service;\n(b) the functions conferred by the 2021 Act;\n“patient” includes (except in sections 8 to 13) a person in relation to whom a Health Board is exercising the functions conferred by the 2021 Act;\n“patient advice and support service” is to be construed in accordance with section 18(1);\n“relevant NHS body” has the meaning given by section 5(2).\n(2) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears, terms used in this Act and the 1978 Act have the same meaning as they have in the 1978 Act.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 23(1) inserted (1.4.2022) by Forensic Medical Services (Victims of Sexual Offences) (Scotland) Act 2021 (asp 3), s. 20(2), sch. para. 4(4)(a) (with s. 3); S.S.I. 2022/24, reg. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 23(1) inserted (1.4.2022) by Forensic Medical Services (Victims of Sexual Offences) (Scotland) Act 2021 (asp 3), s. 20(2), sch. para. 4(4)(b) (with s. 3); S.S.I. 2022/24, reg. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Word in s. 23(1) inserted (1.4.2022) by Forensic Medical Services (Victims of Sexual Offences) (Scotland) Act 2021 (asp 3), s. 20(2), sch. para. 4(4)(c)(i) (with s. 3); S.S.I. 2022/24, reg. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 23(1) inserted (1.4.2022) by Forensic Medical Services (Victims of Sexual Offences) (Scotland) Act 2021 (asp 3), s. 20(2), sch. para. 4(4)(c)(ii) (with s. 3); S.S.I. 2022/24, reg. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in s. 23(1) inserted (1.4.2022) by Forensic Medical Services (Victims of Sexual Offences) (Scotland) Act 2021 (asp 3), s. 20(2), sch. para. 4(4)(d) (with s. 3); S.S.I. 2022/24, reg. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 23 in force at 1.4.2012 by S.S.I. 2012/35, art. 2(a)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2011/5/section/23",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T20:15:11.512929+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."
}