Health Act [HL]

The Act legislates for the proposals put forward by Lord Darzi’s ‘Next Stage Review’ of the NHS in England.

The Act establishes a draft NHS constitution, to encourage greater patient involvement in shaping the care they receive. The constitution also establishes the rights and responsibilities of patients and staff, and enables primary care trusts to become more responsive to the needs of their local communities.

The Act is intended to reinforce the core functions and principles of the NHS, and establishes measures to help the NHS promote wellbeing and prevent ill health.

This includes measures to protect children and young people from the effects of smoking, and extends the remit of the Local Government Ombudsman to consider complaints from adults who have arranged their own social care. This reform will place users on a similar footing to those adults whose social care is arranged or funded by local authorities.

It also develops patient involvement in primary care trusts’ commissioning procedures, and enables those patients who wish to do so, to have a greater involvement in the management of their care through direct payments for health services. Quality accounts regarding safety, patients’ experience, and clinical outcomes will also increase the accountability and quality of care.


Progress

House of Lords

First reading: January 15 2009 [HL Bill 18]

Second reading: February 4 2009

Committee stage:

Report stage:

Third reading: May 12 2009

House of Commons

First reading: May 13 2009 [HC Bill 97]

Second reading: June 8 2009

Committee stage:

Report stage: October 12 2009

Third reading: October 12 2009

Comsideration of Commons amendments: [HL Bill 70]

Lords agreement and consequential amendments: [HC Bill 162]

Royal Assent

Health Act

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