Standing Medical Advisory Committee (SMAC) : Department of Health

Standing Medical Advisory Committee (SMAC)

SMAC was abolished with effect from 2 May 2005. It was a statutory advisory Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPB) established by legislation and set up in 1949 as one of nine separate bodies to advise the Minister and the (then) Central Health Services Committee on matters relating to services provided under the National Health Service Act 1946.

Abolition of SMAC

As part of an ongoing regular review process for Non-Departmental Public Bodies, the continuing need for the advisory mechanisms provided by the Standing Medical Advisory Committee (SMAC) and the Standing Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Committee (SNMAC) were each considered, separately, by an independent reviewer. The reviewers' findings were passed to a Steering Group who made recommendations to Ministers on the future of both SMAC and SNMAC.

The reviewers found that whilst SMAC and SNMAC had been a unique source of advice, providing authoritative and respected guidance to DH and Ministers, an increasing number of other and emerging advisory mechanisms with professional medical, nursing and midwifery representation now existed. The Steering Group concluded that the need for SMAC and SNMAC had now passed and recommended abolition.

In accepting this recommendation, Ministers recognised that many of the newer advisory mechanisms evolved from work originally undertaken by SMAC and SNMAC. Ministers, and colleagues at the Department of Health, were appreciative of the help given by past and present members, who had been hugely influential in shaping the future of advice to the Department of Health and Ministers.

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