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,

(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,