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Arm's length bodies
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Last modified date:11 March 2008
At national level, but at 'arm's length' from DH, a network of organisations have been created to help support and manage the health and social care system.
As stand-alone national organisations sponsored by the Department of Health, Arm's length bodies (ALBs) work closely with the local NHS, social care services, and other ALBs to carry out specific functions. In DH they regulate the system, improve standards, protect public welfare, and support local services.
ALBs vary in size but normally have boards, employ staff and publish accounts. They are accountable to the Department of Health and sometimes directly to Parliament.
Most ALBs also receive substantial funding from the Department of Health. ALB-style agencies are an important feature of other major health systems around the world.
Our ALBs operate in three key areas:
• regulating the health and social care system and workforce
• establishing national standards and protecting patients and the public
• providing central services to the NHS.
Arm’s Length Bodies Business Support Unit
The BSU has been established to help ALBs deliver high quality, value for money services aligned closely to Ministers' health and social care priorities.
Guidance for ALBs
- A new approach to performance monitoring for ALBs
- Reconfiguring the Department of Health's Arm's Length Bodies: business planning guidance
- HM Treasury Dear Accounting Officer updates - advice on accountability, propriety and annual accounting exercises (opens new window)
- HR-specific guidance for ALBs (user ID and password required) (opens new window)
- Email for a password to the HR-specific site (opens new window)
Arm’s length bodies review
The former Secretary of State for Health, John Reid, announced his intention to carry out a review of the Department of Health's arm's length bodies at the Health Select Committee on 30 October 2003. The ALB review sets out a timetable by which existing organisations will transfer their functions to other bodies from 2006-08.
Additional links
ALB review FAQ
Questions and answers about the policy, human resources and finances.
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