The Act provided for the regulation of the social care workforce. It established an independent regulatory body for social care and private and voluntary healthcare services.
The government set out actions to improve working practices, local management and training in social care, and introduced the idea of a Social Care Institute for Excellence.
Sir Derek Wanless led a review to examine long-term trends affecting the NHS and to quantify the resources needed to keep it comprehensive and available to all.
The report outlined progress since the NHS plan, introduced the concept of 'payment by results' and proposed new regulatory bodies for health and social care.
