Legislation provided for the 'purchaser/provider split'. This marked the start of an internal market in the NHS and changes to local authorities' social care functions.
Legislation gave carers the right to ask for an assessment of their needs and ability to care for a person who was being assessed for eligibility for community care services.
A House of Lords' judgement concluded that a local authority could take into account its resources when assessing a person's eligibility for community care services.
The Act restricted the amount of capital assets that local authorities could take into account to determine eligibility for residential accommodation charges.
The Royal Commission on Long-Term Care reported back. It recommended that the costs of personal care be met by the state, and living and housing costs be means tested.
