Department of Health

This article is part of the Pharma_Portal project of Spinwatch.

Background

According to the Department of Health website "We have responsibility for standards of health care in the country, including the NHS. We set the strategic framework for adult social care and influence local authority spend on social care. We also set the direction on promoting and protecting the public's health, taking the lead on issues like environmental hazards to health, infectious diseases, health promotion and education, the safety of medicines, and ethical issues."

Work with other organisations

The DH works with and sponsors arm's length bodies (ALBs), which are impartial national organisations working directly with the local NHS, social care services, and other ALBs to regulate the system, improve standards, protect public welfare and support local services.

Regulatory ALBs that often have their own primary powers and on the whole are independent include:

• Care Quality Commission
• Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence
• Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
• Human Tissue Authority
• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
• Monitor
• Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board

ALBs that focus primarily on establishing national standards and best practice include:

• National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)
• National Biological Standards Board
• National Institute for Biological Standards and Control

ALBs that focus on safety and the protection of public and patients include:

• Health Potection Agency
• General Social Care Council
• National Patient Safety Agency
• National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse
• National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse

Ministers

• Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP Secretary of State for Health
• Ben Bradshaw MP Minister of State for Health Services
• Rt Hon Dawn Primarolo MP Minister of State for Public Health
• Phil Hope MP Minister of State for Care Services
• Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham KBE Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
• Ann Keen MP Parliamentary Under Secretary for Health Services

Board Members

Hugh Taylor CB, David Nicholson CBE, Sir Liam Donaldson KB, Julie Baddeley, Derek Myers, Mike Wheeler, David Behan CBE, Richard Douglas CB

Senior Team

Dr. Fiona Adshead, Christine Beasley, Clare Chapman, David Flory, Sian Jarvis, Professor David R Harper CBE, Professor Sally C Davies, Una O'Brien, Surinder Sharma

Affiliations

Executive Agencies

NHS Estates Agency | Medicines Control Agency | Medical Devices Agency | NHS Pensions Agency | NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency | Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency

Contact details, Resources, Notes

Contact

• Address: Customer Service Centre, The Department of Health, Richmond House, 79 Whitehall, London SW1A 2NS
• Phone: 020 7210 4850
• Textphone: 020 7210 5025

• Website: