Special Health Authority

Special Health Authority

A special type of NHS body which provides a health service to all of England, not just locally (e.g., the National Blood Authority, which provide a national service to the NHS or the public, under section 9 (or 11) of the NHS Act 1977). Like other NHS bodies, they are independent (non-departmental public bodies, or quasi-autonomous non-governmental bodies), but remain subject to ministerial direction.