Health Act 2009

Health Act 2009 ^[1]

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to make provision about The NHS Constitution; to make provision about health care (including provision about the National Health Service and health bodies); to make provision for the control of the promotion and sale of tobacco products; to make provision about the investigation of complaints about privately arranged or funded adult social care; and for connected purposes.
Citation	2009 c 21
Introduced by	Alan Johnson (Commons) Lord Darzi of Denham (Lords)
Territorial extent	United Kingdom
Dates
Royal assent	12 November 2009
History of passage through Parliament
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended

The Health Act 2009 (c 21) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It implements those parts of the NHS Next Stage Review that require primary legislation. ^[2]

Provisions

The act required providers and commissioners of NHS services to have regard to the new NHS constitution. ^[3] NHS bodies are required to publish "quality accounts", which are designed to measure the quality of care delivered to patients. ^[4] The act allowed the extension of direct payments to health services. ^[5]

Section 40 - Commencement

The powers conferred by this section have been exercised by the following Orders:

• The Health Act 2009 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/30 (C. 5))
• The Health Act 2009 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/779 (C. 52))
• The Health Act 2009 (Commencement No. 3) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1068 (C. 70))
• The Health Act 2009 (Commencement No. 3) (Amendment) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1255 (C. 49))
• The Health Act 2009 (Commencement No. 4) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1863 (C. 95))
• The Health Act 2009 (Commencement No. 1) (Wales) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/930 (W. 95) (C. 63))

References

• Peter Mant. "Health Act 2009". Current Law Statutes Annotated 2009. Sweet & Maxwell. Thomson Reuters. 2010. Volume 2. Chapter 21. pp 21-1 to 21-73.
• Halsbury's Statutes,

1. The citation of this Act by this short title is authorised by section 41 of this Act.
2. Explanatory notes, paragraph 11
3. "Health Act 2009". Policy Navigator. The Health Foundation. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
4. "The 2009 Health Bill". Pharmafile. 27 March 2009. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
5. Hunt, Louise (9 June 2009). "Health Bill: MPs back NHS direct payments amid concerns". Community Care. Retrieved 20 January 2026.

External links

• The Health Act 2009, as amended from the National Archives.
• The Health Act 2009, as originally enacted from the National Archives.
• Explanatory notes to the Health Act 2009.