The new NHS: economic regulation

The Health and Social Care Act sets out Monitor’s role as the sector regulator for health care with responsibility for regulating all providers of NHS-funded services in England.

In its new role, Monitor will license providers, work with the NHS Commissioning Board to set prices for NHS-funded services, prevent anti-competitive behaviour, and work with commissioners to ensure continuity of services when providers get into financial difficulty.

Related publications

Regulating the NHS market in England

The government's draft regulations on procurement, patient choice and competition have opened up old wounds in the debate about NHS reform. 

Economic regulation in health care: what can we learn from other regulators?

Economic regulation in health care paperThis paper looks at the lessons that can be learned from economic regulation in health care in other countries and from the regulation of other market sectors in the UK.

Dealing with financially unsustainable providers: how will the failure regime work?

The financial pressures within the NHS are being particularly harshly felt by hospital trusts. We ask why failure regime is needed in the NHS and how will it work.

Can competition and integration co-exist in a reformed NHS?

Can competition and integration co-exist in a reformed NHS? paperThe NHS system needs to develop and integrate to respond to the growing burden of chronic illness.

Related blogs

The Health and Social Care Act: what next for the NHS?

Anna Dixon asks how the Act differs from Andrew Lansley's original plans. What challenges will the NHS face as it is implemented?

Tackling financial failure: how will the proposed legislation work out in practice?

Anna Dixon argues that short-term decisions made in crisis about the future of one organisation are unlikely to be in the best interests of patients and the taxpayer.

Opposition to the Health and Social Care Bill: an Arab Spring for the NHS?

When the Royal College of Nursing announced their opposition to the Health and Social Care Bill, Chris Ham considered the next steps for health and social care reforms.

Balancing liberation with accountability?

Anna Dixon looks at the difficulties in setting objectives for the NHS and how the NHS Commissioning Board can be held accountable for £80bn of public money.

Monitor's perspective

Monitor's changing role

David Bennett, Chair and Chief Executive at Monitor, explains how the regulator's role will change under the Health and Social Care Act.

The King's Fund's perspective

Monitor and the challenges of regulating the NHS

Anna Dixon explains the role of Monitor and looks at the challenges it faces in regulating the NHS.

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