Health Act 2007

Investigations by Authority.

9.— (1) The Authority may undertake an investigation as to the safety, quality and standards of the services described in section 8 (1)(b) if the Authority believes on reasonable grounds that—

(a) there is a serious risk to the health or welfare of a person receiving those services, and

(b) the risk may be the result of any act, failure to act or negligence on the part of—

(i) the Executive,

(ii) a service provider,

(iii) the registered provider of a designated centre, or

(iv) the person in charge of a designated centre if other than its registered provider.

(2) The Minister may, if he or she believes on reasonable grounds that—

(a) there is a serious risk of the kind mentioned in paragraph (a) of subsection (1), and

(b) the risk may be the result of any act, failure or negligence of the kind mentioned in paragraph (b) of that subsection,

require the Authority to undertake an investigation in accordance with this section.

(3) The Authority must ensure that an investigation under this section does not interfere, or conflict, with the functions of other statutory bodies.