The National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19[1]) introduced an internal market into the supply of healthcare in the United Kingdom, making the state an 'enabler' rather than a supplier of health and social care provision.

[2] The Act states that it is a duty for local authorities to assess people for social care and support to ensure that people who need community care services or other types of support get the services they are entitled to.

Patients have their needs and circumstances assessed and the results determine whether or not care or social services will be provided.

To become 'providers' in the internal market, health organisations became NHS trusts, competing with each other.

This legislation in the United Kingdom, or its constituent jurisdictions, article is a stub.