Health Act 2008-09

Act of Parliament

This Act is being prepared for publication.

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Following agreement by both Houses on the text of the Bill it received Royal Assent on 12 November.

The Bill is now an Act of Parliament (law).

Summary of the Bill

The Bill aims to improve the quality of NHS care and services and to improve public health.

Key areas:

• Places a duty on providers and commissioners of NHS services to have regard to a new NHS Constitution, which will set out the responsibilities of patients and staff
• introduces direct payments for health services with the intention of giving patients greater control over the health care services they receive
• introduces quality accounts, which would provide information on quality for patients, clinicians and managers, with the aim of improving local accountability for services
• makes provisions to protect children and young people from the harm caused by smoking. These provisions relate particularly to advertising and sales from vending machines
• extends the remit of the Local Government Ombudsman to consider complaints from people who have arranged their own adult social care
• introduces a scheme by which prizes for innovation in health service provision may be awarded.

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