Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003

Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003

Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to amend the law about the National Health Service; to make provision about quality and standards in the provision of health and social care, including provision establishing the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection and the Commission for Social Care Inspection; to amend the law about the recovery of NHS costs from persons making compensation payments; to provide for the replacement of the Welfare Food Schemes; to make provision about appointments to health and social care bodies; and for connected purposes.
Citation	2003 c. 43
Text of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (c. 43) enabled the creation of foundation trusts and made a number of other reforms to healthcare and social care.

Provisions

The act establishes a type of NHS trust known as "foundation trusts" which would be established as public benefit corporations, but this applies to England only. ^{[1] [2]}

The act requires Primary Care Trusts in England and Local Health Boards in Wales to provide dental care fo individuals in their areas. ^{[2] [3]}

The act placed a duty on the National Assembly for Wales to conduct investigations into and reviews of the provision of healthcare by a Welsh NHS body. ^[2]

The act established the Commission for Social Care Inspection in relation to England and equivalent functions for Wales. ^[2]

The act made certain reforms to the Welfare Food Scheme for England, Scotland and Wales in order to link the scheme more closely with the NHS. ^[2] The act transferred responsibility for managing the Welfare Food Scheme in Wales to the National Assembly for Wales including decisiosn over prescribing the range of foods to be made available. ^[2]

Reception

The legislation was supported by the chief executive of the King's Fund, Julia Neuberger. ^[4]

References

1. "HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE (COMMUNITY HEALTH AND STANDARDS) BILL PUBLISHED". Local Government Chronicle . 13 March 2003. Archived from the original on 2 September 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
2. "BILL TO RAISE AND CO-ORDINATE HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE STANDARDS IN WALES". Local Government Chronicle. 13 March 2003. Archived from the original on 2 September 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
3. "Bill paves the way for NHS shake-up". British Dental Journal. 194 (9): 474–474. 1 May 2003. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.4810177. ISSN   1476-5373.
4. "COMMENT ON PASSING OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE (COMMUNITY HEALTH AND STANDARDS) BILL". Local Government Chronicle . 21 November 2003. Archived from the original on 2 September 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.

See also

• UK enterprise law