The Health, Social Care and Well-being Strategies (Wales) Regulations 2003

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

The strategy document Improving Health in Wales, A Plan for the NHS and its Partners, published by the National Assembly for Wales in February 2001, signalled the intention to promote effective partnership working between the National Health Service and local government.

The National Health Service Reform and Healthcare Professions Act 2002 (2002 c. 17) provides, in section 24 of that Act, for a duty to be placed on each Local Health Board and local authority in Wales to formulate and implement a strategy for the health and well being of the population in the area, and to have regard to the strategy in exercising their functions. In these Regulations, such strategies are referred to as “health, social care and well-being strategies”.

Local Health Boards were established in Wales by the Local Health Boards (Establishment) (Wales) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/148) and their functions are set out in the Local Health Boards (Functions) (Wales) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/150).

These Regulations make provision for —

(a) a duty on Local Health Boards and local authorities to co-operate with NHS Trusts, Community Health Councils, and voluntary and private sector organisations in preparing strategies (regulation 3);

(b) the preparatory steps which Local Health Boards and local authorities must take in relation to strategies, including the assessment of needs and consultation (regulation 4);

(c) the matters which must be addressed in strategies (regulation 5);

(d) commissioning arrangements in respect of secondary care services, to be entered into jointly by Local Health Boards and local authorities with NHS Trusts (regulation 6);

(e) avoiding duplication of and having regard to other existing statutory plans or strategies (regulations 7 and 8);

(f) consultation on draft strategies (regulation 9);

(g) the times for adoption, review and duration of strategies (regulation 10);

(h) publication of the strategies after they have been adopted (regulation 11); and

(i) public inspection of and access to the draft and adopted strategies (regulation 12).

A regulatory appraisal has been carried out in respect of these Regulations and placed in the library of the National Assembly for Wales. Copies may be obtained from Social Care Division, National Assembly for Wales, Cathays Park, CF10 3NQ.