Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979
1979 CHAPTER 36
An Act to establish a Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting, and National Boards for the four parts of the United Kingdom; to make new provision with respect to the education, training, regulation and discipline of nurses, midwives and health visitors and the maintenance of a single professional register; to amend an Act relating to the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work; and for purposes connected with those matters.
[4th April 1979]
The Central Council
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The National Boards and their relationship to the Central Council
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Registration
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Miscellaneous provisions about midwifery
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Financial provisions
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Miscellaneous and general
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23 Interpretation and supplementary.
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(4) The enactments specified in Schedule 7 are amended as there specified
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24 Citation, etc.
(1) This Act may be cited as the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979.
(2) This Act, except section 21(2) and this section (which shall come into force on the passing of this Act), shall come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by order appoint; and different days may be appointed for different provisions of this Act.
(3) This Act extends to Northern Ireland.
SCHEDULES
Schedule 1 Constitution etc. of Central Council
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Section 1.
SCHEDULE 1 Constitution etc. of Central Council
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Section 5.
SCHEDULE 2 Constitution etc. of National Boards
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SCHEDULE 3 Proceedings before Council and committees
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SCHEDULE 4
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Section 21.
SCHEDULE 5 Transitional provisions, etc.
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Section 23(3).
SCHEDULE 6 Adaptations for Northern Ireland and its National Board
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Section 23(4)
SCHEDULE 7 Amendments of Enactments
Nursing Homes Registration (Scotland) Act 1938 (c. 73)
1 In section 1(3)(d) of the Nursing Homes Registration (Scotland) Act 1938, for “ certified” substitute “ registered” . . .
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3 In section 10—
(a) omit the definitions of “ qualified nurse” and “ certified midwife” ;
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Nurses (Scotland) Act 1951 (c.55)
4 In section 27 of the Nurses (Scotland) Act 1951—
(a) in subsection (1), for paragraphs (a) to (c) substitute—
“ (a) registered nurses and registered midwives; and ” and make paragraph (d) into paragraph (b);
(b) in subsection (3) for “ registered nurse” substitute “ registered and qualified nurse”.
5 In section 29 for “ registered nurse” substitute “ registered and qualified nurse”.
6 In section 32, omit the definition of “ certified midwife”.
Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 (c. 20)
6A In section 33—
(a) in section (5) omit the words from the beginning to “this section and” and for the word “him” substitute “ the Secretary of State ” ; and
(b) in subsection (6) omit the words from the beginning to “is exercised and”.
7 In section 11(1) and (1A) of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953, for “ certified midwife” substitute “ registered midwife ” .
Nurses Agencies Act 1957 (c.16)
8 In section 1 of the Nurses Agencies Act 1957—
(a) in subsection (1), for paragraphs (a) to (c) substitute—
“ (a) registered nurses and registered midwives; and ” and make paragraph (d) into paragraph (b);
(b) in subsection (3), for “ registered nurse” substitute “ registered and qualified nurse”.
9 In section 3(2), for “ registered nurse” substitute “ registered and qualified nurse”.
10 In section 8, omit the definitions of “ certified midwife” “ enrolled nurse” and “ registered nurse” , and the word “ and” immediately preceding the latter.
Health Visiting and Social Work (Training) Act 1962 (c. 33)
11 In paragraph 4 of Schedule 1 to the Health Visiting and Social Work (Training) Act 1962, for “ General Nursing Council for England and Wales” substitute “ United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting ” .
Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965 (c.49)
12 In section 21(2) and (3) of the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965, for “ certified midwife” substitute “ registered midwife ” .
13 Omit section 21(6)
Medicines Act 1968 (c. 67)
14 In section 11 of the Medicines Act 1968—
(a) in subsection (1) for “ a registered nurse or as a certified midwife” substitute “ a registered and qualified nurse or a registered midwife ” ;
(b) omit subsection (2).
Commissioner for Complaints Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 (c. 25 N.I.)
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Nursing Homes and Nursing Agencies Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 (c.32 N.I.)
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23 In section 4(e) of the Nursing Homes Act 1975 for “ certified” substitute “ registered ” and for “ pupil midwife” substitute “ student midwife ” ; and at the end of section 4 insert—
“ (2) In relation to any nursing home, a person is to be treated as a qualified nurse if he possesses such qualifications as the Secretary of State considers to be requisite in the provision of nursing care for patients in that home. ”
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Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (c. 65)
26 In paragraph 3(1) of Schedule 4 to the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, for the words “ the issue” to “ section 20” substitute “ registration as midwives under the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979 ” .
Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976 (c. 34)
27 In Schedule 1 to the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976, for paragraph 6 substitute—
“ 6. The service of nurses. ”
National Health Service Act 1977 (c.49)
28 In section 128(1) of the National Health Service Act 1977 omit the definition of “ certified midwife” and “ registered nurse” ; and in Schedule 4, paragraph 1 (5) (c), for “ certified” substitute “ registered ”
National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 (c. 29)
29 In section 108(1) of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978, omit the definitions of “ certified midwife” and “ registered nurse”.
Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30)
30 In Schedule 1 to the Interpretation Act 1978 (words and expressions defined) at the appropriate place in alphabetical order insert—
“ “ Registered ” in relation to nurses, midwives and health visitors, means registered in the register maintained by the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting by virtue of qualifications in nursing, midwifery or health visiting, as the case may be. ”
Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 (c. 44)
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Health and Personal Social Services Order (Northern Ireland) 1972 (S.I. 1972/1265 (N.I.14))
34 In Article 17(1) of the Health and Personal Social Services Order (Northern Ireland) 1972, after sub-paragraph (c), insert—
“ (d) provide such facilities and accommodation for persons training with a view to qualification for registration as nurses and midwives as the National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Northern Ireland may require in discharging functions under section 6(1)(a) of the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979; . ”
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Births and Deaths Registration (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 (S.I. 1976/1042 (N.I. 15))
36 In Article 2(2) of the Births and Deaths Registration (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 omit the definition of “ midwife” ; and in Article 15 for “ midwife” substitute “ registered midwife ” .
Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 (S.I. 1976/1042 (N.I. 15))
37 In paragraph 3(1) of Schedule 5 to the Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1976, for the words from “ the issue” to “ Article 22)” substitute “ registration as midwives under the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979 ” .
Industrial Relations (No.2) (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 (S.I. 1976/2147 (N.I. 28))
38 In Article 15(4) of the Industrial Relations (No. 2) (Northern Ireland) Order 1976, for “ certified midwife” substitute “ registered midwife ” ; and in Article 32 omit the definition of “ certified midwife”.
Section 23(5)
