Unit 18- legislation
Health and Social Care Act (2012)
The health and social care act 2012, is there to safeguard its future the NHS needs to change to meet
the challenges it faces, only by modernising can the NHS tackle the problems of today and avoid the
crisis tomorrow. The health and social care act 2012 puts clinicians at the centre of commissioning, frees
up providers to innovate, empowers patients and gives a new focus to public health.
Case for change
1. The Government is committed to the NHS’s founding principles. However, there is a broad idea
that standing still will not protect the NHS. Modernisation is essential for three main reasons.
2. 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 medicines is growing by over £600 million per year.
3. Need for improvement. At its best, the NHS is world- leading, but there are important areas
where the NHS falls behind those of other major European countries. If we had cancer survival
rates at the average in Europe, we would save 5,000 lives a year.
4. 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.
5. The provision in the Act are designed to meet these changes, by making the NHS more
responsive, efficient and accountable. They draw the evidence and experience of 20 years of
NHS reform.
6. Clinically led commissioning (part 1)- the act puts clinicians in charge of shaping services,
enabling NHS funding to be spent more effectively. Previously clinicians in many areas 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 populations.
7. Provider regulation to support innovative services.
8. Greater voice for patients.
9. New focus for public health.
10. Greater accountability locally and nationally.
11. Streamlined arms- length bodies.
The Care Act (2014)
The care act is about the personalisation of their care. “This Act relates to those being assessed or
receiving social care, and their carers.” (Ferreiro Peteiro et al,2016). The Care Act puts a duty on local
authorities to ensure that all aspects of an individual’s wellbeing are taken into account when decisions
Health and Social Care Act (2012)
The health and social care act 2012, is there to safeguard its future the NHS needs to change to meet
the challenges it faces, only by modernising can the NHS tackle the problems of today and avoid the
crisis tomorrow. The health and social care act 2012 puts clinicians at the centre of commissioning, frees
up providers to innovate, empowers patients and gives a new focus to public health.
Case for change
1. The Government is committed to the NHS’s founding principles. However, there is a broad idea
that standing still will not protect the NHS. Modernisation is essential for three main reasons.
2. 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 medicines is growing by over £600 million per year.
3. Need for improvement. At its best, the NHS is world- leading, but there are important areas
where the NHS falls behind those of other major European countries. If we had cancer survival
rates at the average in Europe, we would save 5,000 lives a year.
4. 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.
5. The provision in the Act are designed to meet these changes, by making the NHS more
responsive, efficient and accountable. They draw the evidence and experience of 20 years of
NHS reform.
6. Clinically led commissioning (part 1)- the act puts clinicians in charge of shaping services,
enabling NHS funding to be spent more effectively. Previously clinicians in many areas 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 populations.
7. Provider regulation to support innovative services.
8. Greater voice for patients.
9. New focus for public health.
10. Greater accountability locally and nationally.
11. Streamlined arms- length bodies.
The Care Act (2014)
The care act is about the personalisation of their care. “This Act relates to those being assessed or
receiving social care, and their carers.” (Ferreiro Peteiro et al,2016). The Care Act puts a duty on local
authorities to ensure that all aspects of an individual’s wellbeing are taken into account when decisions
