10Functions of local health districts

#### 10 Functions of local health districts 10 Functions of local health districts (cf AHS Act ss 19 and 20) > The functions of a local health district are as follows— > > > (a) generally to promote, protect and maintain the health of the residents of its area, > > > (b) to conduct and manage public hospitals, health institutions, health services and health support services under its control, > > > (c) to give residents outside its area access to such of the health services it provides as may be necessary or desirable, > > > (d) to achieve and maintain adequate standards of patient care and services, > > > (e) to ensure the efficient and economic operation of its health services and health support services and use of its resources, > > > (f) generally to consult and co-operate (as it considers appropriate) with any one or more of the following— > > > > > (i) the Health Care Complaints Commission constituted under the [Health Care Complaints Act 1993](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1993-105), > > > > > (ii) health professionals practising in its area, > > > > > (iii) other individuals and organisations (including voluntary agencies, private agencies and public or local authorities) concerned with the promotion, protection and maintenance of health, > > > (f1) to co-operate with other local health districts and the Health Secretary in relation to the provision of services involving more than one public health organisation or on a State-wide basis, > > > (g) to investigate and assess health needs in its area, > > > (h) to plan future development of health services in its area, and, towards that end— > > > > > (i) to consult and plan jointly with the Ministry of Health and such other organisations as it considers appropriate, and > > > > > (ii) to support, encourage and facilitate the organisation of community involvement in the planning of those services, and > > > > > (iii) to develop strategies to facilitate community involvement in the planning of those services and to report on the implementation of those strategies in annual reports and to the Minister, > > > (i) to establish and maintain an appropriate balance in the provision and use of resources for health protection, health promotion, health education and treatment services, > > > (j) to provide services to persons with whom it has contracted or entered into an agreement under section 37(2), > > > (k) to administer funding for recognised establishments and recognised services of affiliated health organisations where that function has been delegated to it by the Minister under section 129, > > > (l) to provide training and education relevant to the provision of health services, > > > (m) to undertake research and development relevant to the provision of health services, > > > (n) to make available to the public information and advice concerning public health and the health services available within its area, > > > (o) to carry out such other functions as are conferred or imposed on it by or under this or any other Act or as may be prescribed by the regulations. > > **s 10:** Am 2001 No 56, Sch 2.21; 2010 No 97, Sch 1.1 \[5\]; 2015 No 58, Sch 3.41 \[2\].