The Health and Social Care Bill 2011

The government is committed to the NHS's founding principles.  However, there is a broad consensus that standing still will not protect the NHS.  Modernisation is essential for three main reasons:

1. Rising Demand and Treatment Costs - The pressures on the NHS are increasing, in keeping with health systems across the world.  Demand is growing rapidly as the population ages and long-term conditions become more common; more sophisticated and expensive treatment options are becoming available.  The cost of medicine is growing by over £600m per year.
2. Need for Improvement - At its best, the NHS is world-leading, but there are important areas where the NHS falls behind those of other European Countries.
3. State of the Public Finances - Whilst the Government has protected the NHS budget, this is still among the tightest funding settlements the NHS has ever faced.  Simply doing the same things in the same way will no longer be affordable in the future.

The Bill puts clinicians in charge of shaping services, enabling NHS funding to be spent more effectively.  Previously clinicians in many ways were frustrated by negotiating with primary care trusts to get the right services for their patients.  Supported by the NHS Commissioning Board, new clinical commissioning groups will now directly commission services for their population.

The Bill also promotes a fair playing field in legislation for the first time.  This will enable patients to be able to choose services which best meet their needs, including from charity or independent sector providers, as long as they meet NHS costs.  Providers, including NHS foundation trusts, will be free to innovate to deliver quality services.  Monitor will be established as a specialist regulator to protect patients' interests.

More information regarding the Health Bill can be found via the Department of Health's website.