The Healthcare Commission (officially known as the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection) is now responsible for the regulation and inspection of private healthcare providers, including cosmetic surgery and laser clinics, in England. You can contact them directly on Tel (020) 7448 9200, if you have concerns about a private healthcare provider or visit their website here.

The equivalent body in Wales is the Care Standard Inspectorate for Wales.

Public Health
The Health Protection Agency, established on 1 April 2003, is the new national organisation for England and Wales with responsibility for protecting public health and reducing the impact of infectious diseases, chemical hazards, poisons and radiation hazards.

It will assume the functions and responsibilities of the former Public Health Laboratory Service, the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research, the National Focus for Chemical Incidents and the National Poisons Information Service. Primary legislation is also planned to incorporate the National Radiological Protection Board into the HPA.

The HPA offers official health advice on infectious diseases such as the SARS virus.