ABSTRACT
Th e NHS is controlled by the Department of Health, led by the Secretary of State for Health who works with fi ve ministers of health, the NHS Chief Executive and the permanent secretary. Th e role of the Department of Health is to provide strategic leadership to the NHS and social care organisations. Th e department also has UK-wide responsibilities in areas such as international and EU business, licensing and safety of medicines, planning for pandemic fl u, and so on. Within the Department of Health are clinical directors who oversee the implementation of clinical programmes such as the National Service Frameworks (NSFs). In 2007, responsibility for these clinical programmes was transferred to a new post of NHS Medical Director.
