Moving forward from last year's White Paper 'Equality and Excellence: Liberating the NHS', the Bill describes a patient-led NHS characterised by the abolition of Primary Care Trusts and Strategic Health Authorities and putting commissioning powers for up to 80% of the health budget into the hands of local GP consortia.

The transtitionary period - likely to last several years - will have huge significance both for the future of the NHS and for the Coalition, which is urging haste to limit the disruption that such a transition can cause. Unions have stressed the importance of (re)building a fair system that does not invite widespread privatisation. Specialists have voiced the need to engage with GPs and develop clear guidance on referrals for specialist conditions.

Many members are likely to experience the changes as service providers, and might find reading the Bill useful in making preparations. The Bill can be found at the Department of Health website.

Can GPs juggle patient care with NHS budget reforms? (BBC Radio 5 live, 25 January 2011)

David Cameron: Public sector reform cannot be delayed (BBC News, 17 January 2011)

Royal College of Physicians response to the Health and Social Care Bill