The health and social care bill was introduced into Parliament on 19 January 2011. The bill is a crucial part of the government’s vision to modernise the NHS so that it is built around patients, led by health professionals and focused on delivering world-class healthcare outcomes.

The bill takes forward Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS (July 2010) and the subsequent government response Liberating the NHS: Legislative Framework and Next Steps (December 2010) which require primary legislation. It also includes provision to strengthen public health services and reform the Department of Health’s arm’s length bodies.

The bill contains provisions covering five themes:

• strengthening commissioning of NHS services
• increasing democratic accountability and public voice
• liberating provision of NHS services
• strengthening public health services
• reforming health and care arm’s-length bodies.

Find out more about Health and social care bill 2010-11 on the Parliament website