Health

The Bill aims to improve the quality of NHS care and services and to improve public health.<br><br><strong>Key areas:</strong><br><ul><li>Places a duty on providers and commissioners of NHS services to have regard to a new NHS Constitution, which will set out the responsibilities of patients and staff </li><li>introduces direct payments for health services with the intention of giving patients greater control over the health care services they receive </li><li>introduces quality accounts, which would provide information on quality for patients, clinicians and managers, with the aim of improving local accountability for services </li><li>makes provisions to protect children and young people from the harm caused by smoking. These provisions relate particularly to advertising and sales from vending machines </li><li>extends the remit of the Local Government Ombudsman to consider complaints from people who have arranged their own adult social care</li><li>introduces a scheme by which prizes for innovation in health service provision may be awarded.</li></ul>