HEALTH SERVICES IN WALES

THE NHS IN WALES

From 1st April 2003 the 22 Local Health Groups became Local Health Boards (LHBs). They provide primary care (family doctors, dentists and opticians, and pharmacists) and are responsible for devising local Health, Social Care and Well-being strategies, and commissioning services. The 13 NHS Trusts and 1 all-Wales Ambulance Trust provide secondary care (hospitals and ambulance services) and community care (health visitors, midwives, community nurses, physiotherapists, occupational and speech therapists).

There are also 22 Community Health Councils (CHCs) in each of the 22 local government areas in Wales and their remit is to monitor the performance of NHS service providers and act as the public voice in letting managers of health services know what people want and how things can be improved.

More information about each LHB, NHS Trust & CHC can be found at http://www.wales.nhs.uk/directory.cfm