MPs debate Lords amendments to Health Bill
11 November 2009 (updated on 22 April 2010)
The Commons debated Lords amendments to the Health Bill, which aims to improve the quality of NHS care and to improve public health
- Commons Hansard: Health Bill
- Video and Audio: Health Bill
- Bills before Parliament: Health Bill
- About Parliament: Passage of a Bill
The Bill covers the following 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