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Standing Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Committee
(SNMAC)
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Abolition of SNMAC
SNMAC was abolished with effect from 2 May 2005, by the National
Health Service (Standing Advisory Committees) Amendment Order 2005
(SI 1100 2005).
As part of an ongoing regular review process for Non-Departmental
Public Bodies, the continuing need for the advisory mechanisms provided
by the Standing Medical Advisory Committee (SMAC) and the Standing
Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Committee (SNMAC) were each considered,
separately, by an independent reviewer. The reviewers' findings
were passed to a Steering Group who made recommendations to Ministers
on the future of both SMAC and SNMAC.
The reviewers found that whilst SMAC and SNMAC had been a unique
source of advice, providing authoritative and respected guidance
to DH and Ministers, an increasing number of other and emerging
advisory mechanisms with professional medical, nursing and midwifery
representation now existed.
The Steering Group concluded that the need for SMAC and SNMAC had
now passed and recommended abolition.
In accepting this recommendation, Ministers recognised that many
of the newer advisory mechanisms evolved from work originally undertaken
by SMAC and SNMAC. Ministers, and colleagues at the Department of
Health, were appreciative of the help given by past and present
members, who had been hugely influential in shaping the future of
advice to the Department of Health and Ministers.
The National Health Service (Standing Advisory Committees) Amendment
Order 2005 (No. 1100), which came into force on 2 May 2005, abolished
SMAC and SNMAC. The text of the Amendment Order and Explanatory
Memorandum are available from the Cabinet Office, Public Sector
Information website:
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History
With the establishment of the NHS, provision was made under the NHS Act
1946 to constitute the Central Health Services Council (CHSC) with a duty
"to advise the Minister on general matters relating to the Act".
In 1949 nine Standing Advisory Committees (SACs) were established to advise
the Minister and the CHSC on matters relating to services provided under
the 1946 Act.
These arrangements were continued under the NHS Act 1977 (s6 and schedule
4) but amended by the Health Services Act 1980 which dissolved the CHSC
while retaining Ministers' powers to appoint SACs. Under the NHS (SAC)
Order 1981, four SACs were retained with unchanged terms of reference,
to advise on the provision of medical, nursing & midwifery, dental,
and pharmaceutical services. A fifth SAC, now the Joint Commmittee
for Vaccination and Immunisation Services, was also established. The Order
applies to England and Wales, and the SACs advise the Secretaries of State
for Health and for Wales.
S6(5) of the NHS Act 1977, as amended, says:
It shall be the duty of a committee so constituted to advise the Secretary
of State:
a. upon such matters relating to the services with which the committee
are concerned as they think fit, and
b. upon any questions referred to them by the Secretary of State relating
to those services.
The then Permanent Secretary in 1949 stated that the Minister of Health
intended only to refer technical questions; broad questions affecting
the organisation of services would not normally be referred. Subsequent
practice has been that matters relating to NHS management and to terms
and conditions of service are seen as being outside the Committees' remit.
Ministerial consideration of a quinquennial review during 1999/2001 concluded
that SNMAC's independent advisory role should be developed to concentrate
on specific strategic issues identified by members as particularly significant
to the nursing and midwifery professions. Their work should complement,
rather than duplicate, work to implement the NHS Plan.
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Chief
Nursing Officer's pages
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