The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7224 p701
16 November 2002

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New Health Bills in Queen's speech

A new Health and Social Care Bill, which will introduce National Health Service foundation trusts and inspection bodies for health and for social services, formed part of the Queen's speech at the State Opening of Parliament on 13 November.

According to the Department of Health, foundation trusts will be certain hospitals in England freed from Whitehall control. They will be governed by stakeholder councils elected from the local community and NHS staff. Trusts will be free to borrow from public or private lenders up to limits set by a regulator.

The Bill will also pave the way for the new Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (replacing the existing Commission for Health Improvement) and the Commission for Social Care Inspection in England and Wales.

A separate Welsh Health Bill will establish a new Wales Centre for Health to support training and research for health professionals and extend the role of community health councils to cover primary care.