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.