The legal structure of health care

Abstract

Health care involves many professions. It is regulated in many ways including professional and personal standards, social standards and moral values. The law is also an important regulator. The legal regulation of nurses as a profession is discussed in Chapter 4. This chapter examines features of the law and legal system concerned with the organisation and delivery of health care that affect nursing. In particular it examines:

• the kinds of laws and rules that bind people working in the National Health Service;

• the legal powers and roles of the Secretary of State and health authorities;

• the extent to which health authorities can be obliged to provide services; and

• the main kinds of proceedings that can be taken against health authorities rather than individuals.