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 progress on improving service quality, access, and health outcomes for this population, focusing on reducing disparities in both physical and mental health.

Description

The Health Services Commissioning (Equality and Accountability) (No. 2) Bill requires health service commissioners in England to actively ensure that health services meet the needs of individuals with mental illness and learning disabilities. This is achieved through several key provisions:

• Commissioning Mandate: Commissioners must actively work to ensure services meet the specific needs of those with mental illness and/or learning disabilities.
• Annual Reporting Requirement: Commissioners must submit annual reports to the Secretary of State. These reports will assess their progress in three key areas:
• Improving the quality of physical and mental health services, as experienced by patients.
• Reducing inequalities in access to physical and mental health services.
• Reducing inequalities in physical and mental health outcomes.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify additional government spending. The costs associated with implementing the reporting requirements and any potential subsequent improvements to services would need to be assessed separately by the government. The text provides no figures.

Groups Affected

• People with mental illness and/or learning disabilities: This group will directly benefit if the bill leads to improved access, quality, and outcomes of their health care.
• Health service commissioners: They will have new responsibilities for reporting and ensuring equitable service provision.
• Secretary of State for Health: The Secretary of State will receive and oversee the annual reports, potentially leading to policy changes based on the reported data.

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