s 254A
(1) The Secretary of State may, for the purpose of assisting any person exercising functions in relation to the health service or providing services for its purposes— (a) provide (or otherwise make available) to the person goods, materials or other facilities; (b) facilitate the recruitment and management of the person's staff; (c) develop or operate information or communication systems; (d) do such other things to facilitate or support the carrying out of the person's functions or other activities as the Secretary of State considers appropriate; (e) arrange for any other person to do anything mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (d) or to assist the Secretary of State in doing any such thing. (2) The power conferred by subsection (1)(a) includes power to purchase goods and materials for the purpose of providing them or making them available. (3) The Secretary of State may, in connection with anything done under subsection (1), make available the services of any person employed by the Secretary of State. (4) The powers conferred by this section may be exercised on such terms, including terms as to the making of payments to or by the Secretary of State, as may be agreed. (5) In this section, “ the health service ” does not include that part of the health service that is provided in pursuance of the public health functions of the Secretary of State or local authorities.