Health Policy

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 put in place new organisational arrangements for health and social care designed to ensure:

  • better integration between public health and other local authority policies and strategies
  • closer integration of health and social care
  • better integration and a more holistic approach to health and wellbeing at local level through the new local authority led Health and Wellbeing Boards.
  • a more outcome focussed approach to policy and service delivery

The new arrangements took effect in April 2013.

Key elements of the new policy framework for health at national level include:

At local level:

  • Health and Wellbeing Strategies, supported by Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSNAs)
  • Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs)
  • CCG Commissioning Plans
  • Other service-specific plans and strategies (eg for urgent care or maternity services)

Whilst Health and Wellbeing Strategies will be led by local authorities, in London, the Mayor has a number of statutory health-related responsibilities, such as to produce a Health Inequalities Strategy. He has also formed a London Health Board.

In addition, there are London regional offices of NHS England and Public Health England.

A key consideration is to ensure future needs for new health services and facilities are reflected and taken account of in the planning process. HUDU can provides a range of advice and support to help with health service and facilities planning – particularly in areas of population growth and change – as part of the evidence gathering and policy formulation stages of Local Plans and Health and Wellbeing Strategies, and as part of implementing policy – see Healthy Urban Development.

For more information on our broader involvement in health policy, see our Promoting Healthier Communities web pages.