Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003

Summary

4. In July 2000 the Government published The NHS Plan, A plan for investment, a plan for reform(1). In April 2002 the Government published a further document, Delivering the NHS Plan: Next steps on investment, next steps on reform(2) and this Act gives effect to the proposals to create NHS foundation trusts and to establish an independent healthcare regulator and an equivalent for social care.

5. The Act provides for the establishment of NHS foundation trusts, of the new health care inspectorate and for the new inspectorate for social care, provides for the recovery of NHS charges, makes changes to the way in which primary dental and medical services are delivered and provides for a replacement of the Welfare Food Scheme and other miscellaneous matters.

1

For copies: - postal address: PO Box 777, London SE1 6XH. Website address: http://www.doh.gov.uk/nhsplanBack [1]

2

ISBN 0101550324 Available from The Stationery Office. Website address: http://www.tso.co.uk/Back [2]