Health and Social Care Act 2012

Health and Social Care Act 2012
source
Short title	Health and Social Care Act 2012
Parliament	Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to establish the National Health Service Commissioning Board and make other provision about the National Health Service in England; to make provision about public health in England and Wales; and for connected purposes
Introduced by	Andrew Lansley
Royal assent	27 March 2012
Commencement	1 April 2013

Health and Social Care Act 2012 is a significant piece of legislation that reformed the National Health Service (NHS) in England, introducing major changes to the structure and organization of the health service. The Act was introduced by Andrew Lansley, the then Secretary of State for Health, and received Royal Assent on 27 March 2012, following a lengthy and contentious passage through Parliament. The Act's provisions were influenced by the NHS Next Stage Review led by Lord Darzi, and the Coalition Government's White Paper, Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS, published in 2010. The Act's implementation was overseen by the Department of Health, led by Jeremy Hunt, who succeeded Andrew Lansley as Secretary of State for Health.

Introduction

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 was a key component of the Coalition Government's NHS Reform program, which aimed to increase clinical commissioning and reduce the role of primary care trusts in the National Health Service (NHS) in England. The Act established the National Health Service Commissioning Board, now known as NHS England, as an independent body responsible for overseeing the NHS and ensuring that clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) were working effectively. The Act also introduced changes to the way that public health services were delivered, with a greater emphasis on local authorities and the creation of Public Health England as a new executive agency of the Department of Health. The Act's provisions were influenced by the work of NHS Confederation, British Medical Association, and the Royal College of Nursing.

Background

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 was the result of a long process of NHS Reform that began under the previous Labour Government, with the publication of the NHS Next Stage Review in 2008, led by Lord Darzi. The review recommended significant changes to the structure and organization of the National Health Service (NHS) in England, including the creation of clinical commissioning groups and the abolition of primary care trusts. The Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats included NHS Reform in their Coalition Agreement in 2010, and the White Paper, Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS, was published later that year, outlining the Coalition Government's plans for the NHS. The Act's provisions were also influenced by the work of Institute for Fiscal Studies, King's Fund, and the Nuffield Trust.

Provisions

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 introduced a number of significant changes to the National Health Service (NHS) in England, including the establishment of the National Health Service Commissioning Board and the creation of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). The Act also introduced changes to the way that public health services were delivered, with a greater emphasis on local authorities and the creation of Public Health England as a new executive agency of the Department of Health. The Act also introduced new rules on competition and regulation in the NHS, and established the Monitor as the new economic regulator for the NHS. The Act's provisions were influenced by the work of Office of Fair Trading, Competition Commission, and the General Medical Council.

Implementation

The implementation of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 was overseen by the Department of Health, led by Jeremy Hunt, who succeeded Andrew Lansley as Secretary of State for Health in 2012. The Act's provisions were implemented in stages, with the establishment of the National Health Service Commissioning Board and the creation of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in 2013. The Act's implementation was supported by a number of organizations, including the NHS Confederation, the British Medical Association, and the Royal College of Nursing. The implementation of the Act was also influenced by the work of Care Quality Commission, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, and the Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Impact

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 has had a significant impact on the National Health Service (NHS) in England, with the establishment of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and the creation of Public Health England as a new executive agency of the Department of Health. The Act's provisions have also introduced new rules on competition and regulation in the NHS, and established the Monitor as the new economic regulator for the NHS. The Act's impact has been influenced by the work of University College London, London School of Economics, and the University of Oxford. The Act has also been influenced by the work of World Health Organization, European Commission, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Controversy

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 was highly controversial, with many critics arguing that it would lead to the privatization of the National Health Service (NHS) in England and undermine the principles of a publicly funded and provided health service. The Act was opposed by many organizations, including the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Nursing, and the Unison trade union. The Act's provisions were also criticized by many Members of Parliament, including Andy Burnham, the then Shadow Secretary of State for Health, and John Healey, the then Shadow Secretary of State for Health in the Labour Party. The controversy surrounding the Act was influenced by the work of The Guardian, The Times, and the BBC. The controversy was also influenced by the work of Institute of Public Policy Research, Centre for Policy Studies, and the Social Market Foundation. Category:United Kingdom Acts of Parliament 2012