The Department of Health and Social Care is an ORGANISATION.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) helps people to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. It leads, shapes and funds health and social care in England, making sure people have the support, care and treatment they need, with the compassion, respect and dignity they deserve.

A new health and care system became fully operational from 1 April 2013 to deliver the ambitions set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

To achieve this, the Department of Health and Social Care is supported by a number of agencies and public bodies, including:

• Care Quality Commission
• Health Research Authority
• Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
• NHS Blood and Transplant
• NHS Business Services Authority
• NHS England
• UK Health Security Agency

For further information on the Department of Health and Social Care, see the Department of Health and Social Care part of the gov.uk website at:

• About us and
• What we do
• DHSC's agencies and partner organisations.

For further information on the role of the Department of Health and Social Care in the new system, see the Department of Health and Social Care part of the gov.uk website at: The health and care system explained.

This supporting information is also known by these names:

Context	Alias
formerly	Department of Health
shortname	DHSC