Following changes in societal attitudes in the 1960s, legislation increased access to contraceptive advice and legalised abortion under certain conditions.
The Department of Health and Social Security published a set of inquiry reports following allegations by campaigner Barbara Robb concerning the care of elderly patients in seven hospitals.
'Administrative structure of the medical and related services in England and Wales' and 'Future structure of the National Health Service in England' proposed the creation of area authorities.
The Committee on Local Authority and Allied Personal Social Services, chaired by Lord Frederic Seebohm, recommended the amalgamation of functions including social care to form a single social services department.
The Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 received royal assent, enabling local authorities to employ voluntary organisations to promote the welfare of old people, and make charges for such arrangements.
The NHS Hospital Advisory Service (later the NHS Health Advisory Service) was established as an independent body reporting to the Secretary of State for Social Services about hospitals in England.
The report of the committee of inquiry into allegations of ill–treatment of patients and other irregularities at the Ely Hospital in Cardiff recommended a system of inspection for hospitals.
