Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether any mechanisms exist to allow the Government to intervene in devolved health matters if it believes there is a significant risk to patient health.

Broadly, healthcare is devolved and it is the responsibility of the Devolved Governments to ensure the safety of patients accessing health services.

The Parliament of the United Kingdom retains the power to legislate in devolved areas and would usually do so with the consent of Devolved Governments. Under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, there are reserved emergency powers to make regulations when an emergency is declared within the terms defined in the Act, which include protecting human life, health and safety or treating human illness or injury.