Reducing health inequalities has been a key health priority for this Government and several significant steps have been taken towards achieving this aim.
Through the Health and Social Care Act 2012, the Government has, for the first time ever, established specific legal duties regarding health inequalities for NHS commissioners and the Health Secretary. NHS England and Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) have an obligation to take account of the need to reduce inequalities in the accessing of healthcare, as well as the outcomes, across the UK. It is the responsibility of local NHS organisations to make decisions on the commissioning and funding of any health care treatments for NHS patients.
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