The National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 is a significant piece of legislation that was passed in the United Kingdom. It was intended to reform and modernize the National Health Service (NHS) and to provide better community care for people in need.
One of the main objectives of the Act was to provide more choice and control for patients in the NHS. It introduced the concept of fundholding, which allowed GPs to purchase services on behalf of their patients from different providers, including hospitals and other healthcare organizations. This was intended to increase competition and improve the quality of care.
Another important aspect of the Act was the introduction of the internal market within the NHS. This allowed hospitals and other healthcare providers to compete with each other for contracts to provide services to patients. This was seen as a way to increase efficiency and drive down costs, but it also led to some criticism as it was perceived as introducing a more commercialized approach to healthcare.
The Act also established the Department of Health as the central body responsible for the administration and management of the NHS. It also created the position of the Chief Executive of the NHS, who was responsible for overseeing the operation of the service and implementing government policy.
In addition to these changes within the NHS, the Act also introduced significant reforms to community care. It aimed to provide better care for people who needed support to live independently in their own homes, rather than being institutionalized in hospitals or nursing homes. It introduced the concept of community care assessments, which were used to determine the needs of individuals and the type of support that they required.
Overall, the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 was a major reform of the NHS and community care in the United Kingdom. While it brought about some significant changes, it also sparked controversy and debate about the direction of healthcare in the country.
