Government publishes Health and Social Care Bill

The Health and Social Care Bill has been published by the Government today with the aim of enhancing patient safety and improving public health.

Health minister Ben Bradshaw unveiled the bill which sets out the establishment of the Care Quality Commission as well as reforming professional regulation to give patients greater confidence in the care being provided.

Cash grants for pregnant women in the final days of pregnancy have also been outlined as well as updates to existing public health protection legislation.

The Care Quality Commission is a central pillar to the bill and will act as a new health and adult social care regulator with tough powers to inspect and intervene when hospitals when failing to meet quality requirements including hygiene standards.

Proposals to tackle the growing challenge of childhood obesity are also set out in the bill, with new plans outlined to provide all patients whose children take part in the National Child Measurement Programme with the results and advice.

Ben Bradshaw stated: “Giving parents clear information about their child’s weight is an important way of engaging with familiesand prompting a conversation about healthy lifestyles and weight issues within the home.”

This month, the Nuffield Council on Bioethics has called on the government to do more to tackle public health problems including in areas such as alcohol, obesity, infectious diseases, smoking and water fluoridation.