Overview

This bill aims to reduce health inequalities experienced by people with mental illness and learning disabilities in England. It mandates annual reports to the Secretary of State detailing service provision, health outcomes, and patient experiences for this group, promoting greater equality and accountability in healthcare commissioning.

Description

The Health Services Commissioning (Equality and Accountability) (No. 2) Bill requires health service commissioners to prioritize the needs of individuals with mental illness and learning disabilities when making decisions about service provision (Clause 1(1)). Commissioners must annually report to the Secretary of State on their efforts to meet this requirement (Clause 1(2)). This report must demonstrate steps taken and outcomes achieved in three key areas (Clause 1(3)):

• Improving the quality of physical and mental health services based on patient experience.
• Reducing inequalities in access to physical and mental health services.
• Reducing inequalities in physical and mental health outcomes.

The bill specifies that it applies to England and comes into force the day after receiving Royal Assent (Clause 2).

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify an increase or decrease in government spending. The cost of implementing the reporting requirements and potential costs associated with addressing inequalities identified in the reports are not explicitly stated in the provided text.

Groups Affected

• People with mental illness and learning disabilities: This group will directly benefit from the bill's aim to reduce inequalities in healthcare access and outcomes.
• Health service commissioners: They will be required to implement the bill’s provisions, creating additional reporting responsibilities.
• The Secretary of State for Health: This individual will receive and review the annual reports from commissioners.

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