The Health and Social Care Act was signed into law on March 27, 2012. The reforms will bring about a major restructuring of the National Health Service (NHS), putting 60 percent of the budget into the hands of GP-led clinical commissioning groups. The health secretary described the Act as “delivering more power to clinicians, putting patients at the heart of the NHS, and reducing the costs of bureaucracy.” The law, which has been the focus of parliamentary debate and intense scrutiny from the health care profession for over a year, will bring about the biggest changes to the NHS in England since it was created in 1948. The Labor government, which opposes the reforms, has already vowed to repeal the law.
Sources:
http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e2199?etoc= (subscription required)
http://mediacentre.dh.gov.uk/2012/03/27/health-and-social-care-bill-gains-royal-assent/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/mar/20/nhs-reform-bill-health-passes
Further Background Reading:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/mar/12/nhs-reform-gps-too-busy
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/mar/13/nhs-collapse-without-reforms-lansley
http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e2243?etoc (subscription required)