Policy & acts: health service organisation

2009

NHS Constitution

Proposed in the Darzi review, this is the first time the rights and responsibilities of users and providers of care in the NHS have been formally codified.  Includes an explicit acknowledgement that the NHS is bound by limited resources, along with a commitment to make 'the most effective, fair and sustainable use' of those resources.

NHS Constitution for England (DH, January 2009)

2008

High Quality Care for All

Also known as the NHS Next Stage Review and the Darzi review (after its principle author, Lord Ara Darzi), High Quality Care for All sets out the principle that NHS organisations should increasingly be assessed on the quality of the care they provide.  Also proposed the concept of an NHS Constitution, and suggested the role of NICE should be extended (including overseeing the establishment of NHS Evidence) and its guidance made available more speedily.

High quality care for all (DH, June 2008)
About NHS Evidence (NICE, 2009)

2007

World Class Commissioning

Extensive Department of Health programme to improve commissioning skills in Primary Care Trusts in England over the next few years. PCTs should set a small number of specific outcomes to which they aspire; meet - with increasing rigour - a set of 11 competencies; and improve their governance arrangements.  PCTs are assessed on their progress using the 'assurance system'.

World Class Commissioning (DH, 2007 onwards)

Commissioning framework for health and well-being

Document outlining how the Our Health, Our Care, Our Say White Paper will be put into effect, with particular emphasis on 'joint' commissioning between primary care trusts (PCTs) and local authorities for health and social care, principally through the new Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) process.

Commissioning framework for health & well-being (DH, March 2007)
Joint strategic needs assessment guidance (DH, December 2007)

2006

Our Health, Our Care, Our Say

White Paper which expands on previous Government initiatives to give patients more choice in their healthcare.  Includes an emphasis on shifting resources from secondary and tertiary care to primary care.
Our health, our care, our say: a new direction for community services  (DH, January 2006)
Our health, our care, our say: investing in the future of community hospitals (DH, July 2006)

2005

Commissioning a patient-led NHS

Outlined the process by which PCTs and SHAs are being reconfigured to reduce their number, and sets out the future role of PCTs in becoming commissioning rather than provider bodies.  Preceded by 'Creating a patient-led NHS'.

Commissioning a patient-led NHS (DH, July 2005)
Creating a patient-led NHS: delivering the NHS improvement plan (DH, March 2005)
Reorganisation of Ambulance Trusts, SHAs and PCTs (DH, July 2006)

2004

NHS Improvement Plan

Sets out Government plans for the NHS between 2004-2008.  Includes the concept of patient-led services, PCTs leading commissioning, and the Choose and Book IT system.

The NHS Improvement Plan - putting people at the heart of Public Services (DH, June 2004)

2003

Every Child Matters

Green Paper, much of which was implemented in the Children Act 2004, setting out a multi-agency response to the Climbié enquiry.  Includes reforms to youth justice, and plans for Children's Trusts to improve local communication between organisations working with children.

Every Child Matters website (HMG) | Every Child Matters publications
Children Act (OPSI, 2004)

2002

Wanless Report

Report to the UK Treasury recommending an increase in health spending as a percentage of GDP in the UK, in order for the National Health Service to continue to provide an acceptable level of healthcare for the population over the next few decades.

Securing our future health: taking a long-term view (HM Treasury, April 2002)

1999

The future organisation of prison health care

Report by Joint Prison Service/NHS Working Group suggesting for the first time that prison healthcare responsibility should transfer to the NHS.  This process is due to complete in April 2006.

The future organisation of prison health care (DH, March 1999)
Prison health (internal link)

1998

Acheson Report

Report highlighting (as had previous documents, such as the Black Report) that income, employment and educational deprivation, as well as so-called 'material' deprivation, are a serious cause of preventable ill health in the UK.  The report presents a series of recommendations to reduce health inequalities.

Independent inquiry into inequalities in health report (TSO, November 1998)