RCPCH Involvement in the Health and Social Care Act

In March 2012, the Health and Social Care Bill received Royal Assent to become the Health and Social Care Act (2012).

Now that this Bill is an Act of law, our focus as a College is not only on shaping the content of the legislation but also on how it will be implemented by healthcare professionals, local authorities and others. 

The RCPCH worked to influence the Government at every stage of the Act’s journey through Parliament, along with the legislation’s ‘pause’. Below is a summary of RCPCH activity regarding the Health and Social Care Act. 

Timeline of RCPCH involvement in the Bill

February 2012

• Following a survey of members, which saw 79% of respondents vote for the College to call for the ‘outright withdrawal’ of the Bill, on 23 February 2012 the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) voted to call on the government to withdraw the Bill, urging Ministers to bring together all healthcare professionals to work on practical steps for delivering areas of reform where there is clear consensus. 'All those representing healthcare professionals need to be brought together to thrash out how these areas of consensus can be effectively put into practice,' RCPCH president, Professor Terence Stephenson. For a full breakdown of survey results, please see the press release. 
• Statement following Downing Street meeting on the Bill
• RCPCH ballots members on the Health and Social Care Bill
• The RCPCH releases its latest position on the Health and Social Care Bill  

View the BBC's summary of our and other Colleges' positions 

January 2012 

• RCPCH responds to the launch of the Children's Forum that will engage with children, parents, carers, families and health professionals to ensure the needs of children and young people receive high priority within the NHS.

• President's E-bulletin: Professor Terence Stephenson's progress report (PDF, 464KB, 3 pages) was sent to update RCPCH members on the progress made in influencing the Bill to secure the best possible NHS for children and young people.

October - December 2011 - continued engagement with members of the House of Lords and other policymakers. 

The health policy team circulated a presentation (PPT, 979KB, 18 slides) to update members and stakeholders on the progress of the Bill. 

October 2011

• RCPCH briefing (PDF, 52KB, 4 pages) for peers on our concerns for the committee stage of the Bill in the House of Lords.

This stage of the Bill was spread over two months, where it was scrutinised clause by clause.

September 2011

• RCPCH briefing (PDF, 285KB, 6 pages) for the House of Lords (second reading). 

June 2011

• RCPCH responds to the report from the NHS Future Forum, of which Professor Terence Stephenson is a member. 

May 2011

• RCPCH responds to the NHS modernisation listening excerise, highlighting key issues on the health reform proposals for children and young people.

January 2011

• RCPCH responds (PDF, 18KB, 2 pages) to the introduction of the Health and Social Care Bill.

For more details on any of these documents, please email us at health.policy@rcpch.ac.uk