BREAKING: Health and Care Bill granted Royal Assent

The Health and Care Bill has today received Royal Assent, marking a milestone in the recovery and reform of health and care services.

The Act introduces measures to tackle the Covid backlogs and rebuild health and social care services from the pandemic, with £36bn of funding over the next three years through the Health and Care Levy.

It will also contain measures to tackle health disparities and create safer, more joined-up services that will put the health and care system on a more sustainable footing.

The Health and Care Act builds on the proposals for legislative change set out by NHS England in its Long Term Plan, while also incorporating lessons from the pandemic.

It aims to reform how health and adult social care work together, tackle long waiting lists built up during the pandemic, and address some of the long-term challenges faced by the country including a growing and aging population, chronic conditions and inequalities in health outcomes.

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: ‘The Health and Care Act is the most significant change to the healthcare system in a decade and will put it in the strongest possible position to rebuild from the pandemic, backed by our record funding.

‘These measures have broad support and will harness the best ways of working to ensure people are receiving high quality, joined up care.’

As part of the measures to deliver more joined up care, every part of England will be covered by an Integrated Care System (ICS) bringing together NHS, local government and wider system partners to put collaboration and partnership at the heart of healthcare planning.

Amanda Pritchard, NHS Chief Executive commented: ‘The Covid pandemic has shown what can be achieved when we work together across NHS teams, organisations and systems with our partners in the care sector and beyond, and these reforms will help us to deliver for patients and their families.

‘As the NHS works flat out to recover services and address the Covid-19 backlogs that have inevitably built up during the pandemic, these reforms will accelerate the changes set out in the NHS Long Term Plan that are already giving people greater choice, better support and more joined up care when they need it.’

Cllr James Jamieson, Local Government Association Chairman, added: ‘The LGA supports the clear focus on improving community health and wellbeing through greater integration between the NHS and local government in the Health and Care Act. The flexible and enabling nature of the legislation is positive recognition that systems are best placed to make their own arrangements for joining up services and setting their own strategies for improving community health, are we are glad to see this bill supporting local areas making their own decisions.

‘The LGA has worked closely with the Government to ensure that local decision making and a strong role for local authorities are key features of this legislation. We are also pleased that the Government has listened to and acted on the LGA proposals that the Secretary of State’s increased powers must be used in consultation with local government and relevant, local NHS organisations.’

Photo by Marcin Nowak