Policy and legislation in the UK

Overview

This page provides a succinct chronological list of recent and notable UK law, Government White Papers and reports related to Public Health.  It is not exhaustive, and additional papers of note will be found throughout this site.  However, please let me know if you think I've omitted any major documents.

 

2008

Healthy weight, healthy lives

Policy paper giving the national response to the obesity epidemic in England, with the overall aim of reducing 2020 obesity levels to those of the year 2000. Policies include regular weighing of children, promoting healthier food choices, encouraging a health-promoting environment such as healthy towns, and campaigns to encourage walking.

Healthy weight, healthy lives: a cross-government strategy for England (DH, Jan 2008)

2007

Commissioning framework for health and well-being

Document outlining how the Our Health, Our Care, Our Say White Paper will be put into effect, with particular emphasis on 'joint' commissioning between primary care trusts (PCTs) and local authorities for health and social care, principally through the new Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) process.

Commissioning framework for health & well-being (DH, March 2007)
Joint strategic needs assessment guidance (DH, December 2007)

2006

Stern Review

Report to UK Treasury suggesting the economic benefits of tackling climate change now outweigh the possible future costs.

Stern review on the economics of climate change  (HM Treasury, October 2006)
International and global public health - climate change (Internal link)

Our Health, Our Care, Our Say

White Paper which expands on previous Government initiatives to give patients more choice in their healthcare.  Includes an emphasis on shifting resources from secondary and tertiary care to primary care.
Our health, our care, our say: a new direction for community services  (DH, January 2006)
Our health, our care, our say: investing in the future of community hospitals (DH, July 2006)

Health Bill

Imposed restrictions on smoking in enclosed public places, including all pubs, clubs and restaurants, in England, from April 2007. Similar legislation was introduced slightly earlier in the rest of the UK.

Health Bill (House of Lords, February 2006) | Health promotion (internal link)

2005

Commissioning a patient-led NHS

Outlined the process by which PCTs and SHAs are being reconfigured to reduce their number, and sets out the future role of PCTs in becoming commissioning rather than provider bodies.  Preceded by 'Creating a patient-led NHS'.

Commissioning a patient-led NHS (DH, July 2005)
Creating a patient-led NHS: delivering the NHS improvement plan (DH, March 2005)
Reorganisation of Ambulance Trusts, SHAs and PCTs (DH, July 2006)

Pandemic influenza planning

See flu pandemic planning page for more details on UK and international policies.

2004

Choosing Health

White Paper which sets out the Government's vision for empowering patients to make healthy choices by increasing the availability of high quality information.  Focuses in particular on obesity, smoking, STIs and alcohol.

Choosing Health - making healthy choices easier (DH, Nov 2004)
DH Choosing Health pages | Delivery Plan (DH, March 2005)
Health promotion (internal link)

NHS Improvement Plan

Sets out Government plans for the NHS between 2004-2008.  Includes the concept of patient-led services, PCTs leading commissioning, and the Choose and Book IT system.

The NHS Improvement Plan - putting people at the heart of Public Services (DH, June 2004)

2003

Licensing Act (came into force November 2005)

Allowed pubs, clubs and off-licences the option of applying for later opening hours, thus increasing the availability of alcohol in the UK.

Licensing Act (2003) (HMSO, 2003) | Licensing Act explained (DCMS, 2005)
Health promotion (internal link)

Every Child Matters

Green Paper, much of which was implemented in the Children Act 2004, setting out a multi-agency response to the Climbié enquiry.  Includes reforms to youth justice, and plans for Children's Trusts to improve local communication between organisations working with children.

Every Child Matters website (HMG) | Every Child Matters publications
Children Act (OPSI, 2004)

2002

Wanless Report

Report to the UK Treasury recommending an increase in health spending as a percentage of GDP in the UK, in order for the National Health Service to continue to provide an acceptable level of healthcare for the population over the next few decades.

Securing our future health: taking a long-term view (HM Treasury, April 2002)

1999

The future organisation of prison health care

Report by Joint Prison Service/NHS Working Group suggesting for the first time that prison healthcare responsibility should transfer to the NHS.  This process is due to complete in April 2006.

The future organisation of prison health care (DH, March 1999)
Prison health (internal link)

1998

Acheson Report

Report highlighting (as had previous documents, such as the Black Report) that income, employment and educational deprivation, as well as so-called 'material' deprivation, are a serious cause of preventable ill health in the UK.  The report presents a series of recommendations to reduce health inequalities.

Independent inquiry into inequalities in health report (TSO, November 1998)

1988

Public Health Regulations

Most recent iteration of the Public Health Act, updating the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, detailing statutory obligations in notifiable disease reporting.

Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1988 (OPSI, October 1988)

1948

National Assistance Act

Best known in Public Health circles for Section 47, which concerns the removal of individuals to hospital against their will. To fulfil the conditions of the Act, an individual must be elderly or suffering from a chronic disease and living in insanitary conditions; and be unable to look after themselves and not have anyone caring for them. The original Act required the Proper Officer (usually the local CCDC) to present evidence to the Magistrates Court, with 7 days' notice served thereafter.  The Act was revised in 1951 so that removals could be immediate, providing two medical doctors (usually the Proper Officer and one other doctor) certify the individual.  The Act is rarely required - many patients can eventually be persuaded to come into hospital voluntarily.

Section 47 (Cumbria and Lancs HPU/Healthprotection.org.uk, 2003)
Law and the elderly (Liverpool University Handbook of Geriatric Medicine)