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Policy and guidance
The Department of Health is responsible for setting health and social care policy in England. The Department’s work sets standards and drives modernisation across all areas of the NHS, social care and public health. As well as policy documents, this section of the site contains guidance on implementation.
Listing of all health and social care related topics on site. Categorised policy documents, non-clinical guidance, newsletters, links and other resources can be accessed here.
Policies to improve the structure, management and financing of the NHS and social care.
Policies and initiatives to help NHS and social care workforces grow and modernise. Topics include pay policy, working conditions and personal and professional development.
Giving patients more choice about how, when and where they receive treatment is one cornerstone of the Government’s health strategy. Another is giving members of the public a bigger hand in shaping local care systems. Policy documents and guidance about how these goals are being achieved.
NHS contingency plans and advice on preparing for specific types of disasters and attacks.
The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 received Royal Assent on 30 November 2000. The Act supersedes the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information 1997. Guidance on the most direct way to make a request for information, what to do if you are not happy with the way we handle your request and general information about the Department’s FOI Publication Scheme.
The pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, medicines, prescribing and prescription forms, NHS charges and exemptions, local pharmaceutical services (LPS) pilots and local pharmaceutical budgets.
Information on international organisations with health-related functions, and guidance on the move to treat certain NHS patients overseas.
The process and methodology used by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) to monitor the performance of all local councils with social services responsibilities.
The Social Services Inspectorate's work transferred on 1 April 2004 to the Commission for Social Care Inspection, the new single inspectorate for social care in England. The link below provides access to historical SSI publications and to CSCI.
Health research is essential to tackle the increasing challenges that disease and ill health place on our society so the government is committed to raising the level of research and development that takes place in the NHS. The research programmes funded by the Department of Health ensure the policies and services provided by the NHS are based on the latest and most reliable evidence, and the needs of the public.
This section tells you how to get medical treatment abroad, including information on the European Health Insurance card, or EHIC - the replacement for the E111.
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