Overview

The Health and Care Bill underwent significant amendments during its passage through Parliament. Key changes relate to workforce planning reports, the Secretary of State's powers regarding NHS reconfigurations, procurement practices to avoid modern slavery, and the calculation of care costs for adults needing social care.

Description

Workforce Planning

The bill now mandates a report every three years (instead of two) assessing health and social care workforce needs in England. This report must include independently verified projections of workforce supply and demand for the next five, ten and fifteen years.

Secretary of State's Powers

The Secretary of State retains increased powers to scrutinize and intervene in NHS reconfigurations, subject to amendments clarifying the need for reasonable grounds to believe that reconfigurations are in patients' best interests.

NHS Supply Chains

The Lords' amendment concerning genocide prevention in procurement was replaced with a Commons amendment mandating a review into the risk of slavery and human trafficking in NHS supply chains, focusing particularly on cotton-based products. A further amendment mandates that regulations ensure procurement avoids modern slavery.

Care Costs for Adults

The Lords insisted on amendments concerning the calculation of care costs for adults needing social care, emphasizing inclusion of all local authority costs, evaluation of pilot schemes, and impact assessments, including protection for disabled adults under 40.

Government Spending

The bill does not directly specify government spending figures, but the increased reporting requirements related to workforce planning and the review of NHS supply chains may lead to some additional costs associated with data collection, analysis, and report production.

Groups Affected

• Healthcare workers: The workforce planning reports will directly impact their employment prospects and working conditions.
• NHS Trusts and providers: The Secretary of State's increased powers over NHS reconfigurations will affect their operations and strategic planning.
• Suppliers to the NHS: The review into slavery and human trafficking in NHS supply chains will directly impact suppliers, requiring them to demonstrate ethical sourcing.
• Adults needing social care: The amendments regarding care cost calculations will have a direct impact on their financial responsibilities for care, potentially affecting their financial well-being.
• Local Authorities: The amendments regarding the determination of care costs will affect their budgeting and financial planning relating to social care.

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