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Acts and Bills
Acts of Parliament and their explanatory notes and guidance notes where appropriate, with instructions on compliance where appropriate. The legislation contained on this website is subject to Crown Copyright protection. It may be reproduced free of charge provided that it is reproduced accurately and that the source and copyright status of the material is made evident to users. Acts are Acts of Parliament which have been given Royal Assent. Bills refer to legislation that is still going through the parliamentary process.
Personal Care at Home Bill 2009/10
The Personal Care at Home Bill was announced in the Queen's Speech on 18 November, was introduced to Parliament on 25 November and received its second reading on 14 December.
Health Act 2009
The Health Bill was introduced into Parliament on 15 January 2009 and received Royal Assent on 12 November 2009. It proposed measures to improve the quality of NHS care, the performance of NHS services, and to improve public health.
Health and Social Care Act 2008
The Health and Social Care Act received Royal assent on 22 July 2008. It contains significant measures to modernise and integrate health and social care.
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 received Royal Assent on 13 November 2008. It followed a review of the law primarily in response to technological developments, such as new ways of creating embryos that have arisen since 1990, and changes in society. The Act updates the law to ensure that it is fit for purpose in the 21st century. A main aim is to keep the UK at the forefront of developments in treatment and research.
The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007
The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 received Royal assent on 30 October 2007. It is an Act to make provision: with respect to local government and the functions and procedures of local authorities and certain other authorities; with respect to persons with functions of inspection and audit in relation to local government; to establish the Valuation Tribunal for England; in connection with local involvement networks; to abolish Patients' Forums and the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health; with respect to local consultation in connection with health services.
Mental Health Act 2007
The Mental Health Act received Royal Assent on 19 July 2007. It amends the Mental Health Act 1983, and introduces "Bournewood" safeguards through amending the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
Consolidation of NHS law in England and Wales
Most health legislation made since 1977 has been summarised within three Acts of Parliament. They received Royal Assent on 8 November 2006 and come into effect on 1 March 2007 (subject to a few exceptions). All those who refer to the law governing the NHS need to make sure that, where necessary, they replace their earlier copies of statutes with the three new Acts before the need to look at sources of legislation.
NHS Redress Act 2006
The NHS Redress Act 2006 received the Royal Assent on 8 November 2006. The Government's objective was to reform the way lower value clinical negligence cases are handled in the NHS to provide appropriate redress, including investigations, explanations, apologies and financial redress where appropriate, without the need to go to court, thereby improving the experience of patients using the NHS. (Gateway reference 5646).
- NHS Redress Act 2006 (opens new window)
- NHS Redress: Statement of policy
- NHS Redress Statement - improving the response to patients
- Statement of intent: Improving health services for disabled children and young people and those with complex health needs
- Download Regulatory impact assessment (updated 2 March 2006) (gateway reference 6249) (PDF, 96K)
Health Act 2006
The Health Act 2006 received the Royal Assent on 19 July 2006. It is an Act to make provision for the prohibition of smoking in certain premises, places and vehicles and for amending the minimum age of persons to whom tobacco may be sold; to make provision in relation to the prevention and control of health care infections; to make provision in relation to the management and use of controlled drugs; to make provision in relation to the supervision of certain dealings with medicinal products and the running of pharmacy premises, and about orders under the Medicines Act 1968 and orders amending that Act under the Health Act 1999; to make further provision about the National Health Service in England and Wales and about the recovery of National Health Service costs; to make provision for the establishment and functions of the Appointments Commission; to make further provision about the exercise of social care training functions.
- Health Act 2006 (opens new window)
- Health Bill on the UK Parliament website (opens new window)
- Health Bill - partial regulatory impact assessment
- Partial regulatory impact assessment - smokefree aspects of the Health Bill
- Responses to the consultation on the smokefree elements of the Health Improvement and Protection Bill
- Health Bill information paper: Medicines and pharmacies - Making the best use of the pharmacy workforce
Mental Capacity Act 2005
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 received the Royal Assent on 7 April 2005. It provides a statutory framework to protect vulnerable people, carers and professionals. It makes it clear who can take decisions in which situations and how they should go about this. It starts from the fundamental point that a person has capacity and that all practical steps must be taken to help the person make a decision.
Health Protection Agency Act 2004
Full text of Act.
Health and Social Care Act 2003
The Health and Social Care Act 2003 introduced a raft of new dental legislation.
NHS Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002
The Act reformed the distribution of functions between Strategic Health Authorities and Primary Care Trusts, extended the role of the Commission for Health Improvement, reformed the structures for patient and public involvement in the NHS, provided for joint working between NHS bodies and the prison service.; and reformed the regulation of the health care professions, including the establishment and functions of the Council for the Regulation of Health Care Professionals.
Care Standards Act 2000
The Care Standards Act 2000 established a major regulatory framework for social care to ensure high standards of care and will improve protection of vulnerable people. Implementation led to the establishment of the independent National Care Standards Commission (NCSC). Link to published legislation and access DH standards and regulations in regard to the Act.
Health Act 1999
An Act to amend the law about the National Health Service. It makes provision in relation to arrangements and payments between health service bodies and local authorities with respect to health and health-related functions.
Data Protection Act 1998
The Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) came into force on 1 March 2000. The Act implements EC Directive 95/46/EC on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data. One of its purposes is to safeguard the fundamental rights of individuals. Link directly to the published legislation, online guidance and DH guidance for social services.
Disability Discrimination Act 1995
This section gives material and publications about the implementation of Section 21 of the Disability Discrimination Act, which is the section of the Act with implications for health service provision, practice, policies and procedures.
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