---

Health and Social Care Bill

Answer

The Health and Social Care Bill sets out in considerable detail how we intend to reform, transfer or abolish a significant number of these functions, either because they would be carried out by a different body in the new system, or because they are now unnecessary. Strategic health authorities (SHAs), primary care trusts (PCTs), special health authorities and health related arm's-length bodies collectively have a wide range of legal duties. Many of these are statutory functions of the Secretary of State that have been delegated through regulations and directions under the National Health Service Act 2006. In the current system, PCTs are responsible for the commissioning of most NHS services, while SHAs act as regional headquarters of the NHS, providing management and direction to PCTs and NHS trusts. Special health authorities and arm's-length bodies have a range of specialist responsibilities and functions. Under the system proposed by the Health and Social Care Bill, SHAs and PCTs would be abolished. They would be replaced by more autonomous NHS institutions, with transparent duties and responsibilities. We intend that, in future, clinical commissioning groups should be responsible for commissioning the majority of NHS services, supported by a national NHS Commissioning Board. PCTs' current responsibilities for public health improvement would transfer to local authorities. A number of arm's-length bodies would also be abolished. Their functions would transfer either to new or existing organisations, would return to the Secretary of State, or would cease.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

10519; 729 c8-9WA

Session

2010-12

Subjects

Functions Health authorities NHS Primary care trusts Reorganisation

Legislation

Health and Social Care Bill 2010-12

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk