The Local Health Boards (Establishment) (Wales) Order 2003

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

The strategy document Improving Health in Wales, published by the National Assembly for Wales in February 2001, signalled the intention to abolish the existing five Health Authorities in Wales on 1st April 2003 and to create Local Health Boards to which the National Assembly may delegate functions of Health Authorities transferred to it pursuant to section 27 of the Government of Wales Act 1998 (1998 c. 38), and other functions of the National Assembly relating to the health service.

This Order establishes Local Health Boards as provided for in section 16BA of and Schedule 5B to the National Health Service Act 1977 (1977 c. 49) and sets out the areas for which they are established. The intention is that Local Health Board areas should have the same boundaries as local government areas in Wales. The Order also provides for interim functions of Local Health Boards between their establishment and operational dates and sets their accounting date.

Welsh Health Authorities are abolished by Order made pursuant to section 27 of the Government of Wales Act 1988.

In relation to the membership and constitution of Local Health Boards, see the Local Health Boards (Constitution, Membership and Procedures) (Wales) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/149, (W.19)).

In relation to the functions delegated to Local Health Boards, see the Local Health Boards (Functions)(Wales) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/150, (W.20)).