Central Health Services Council and Committees: Minutes, Papers and Correspondence

The National Health Service Act 1946 established a Central Health Services Council whose duties were "to advise the Minister on such general matters relating to the services provided [under the NHS Act 1946], or any services provided by local health authorities, as the Council think fit and upon any questions referred to them by him relating to those services".

The first schedule of the NHS Act 1946 provided that the numbers of the Central Council should be 41, of whom 6 should be ex-officio, the presidents of the Royal Colleges and the General Medical Council, and the chairmen of the British Medical Association and the Society of Medical Officers of Health; 15 should be medical practitioners of whom 2 should be selected for their knowledge of mental illness and mental conditions; 5 should be persons, not being medical practitioners, with experience in hospital management; 5 should be persons, not being medical practitioners, with experience in local government; 3 should be dental practitioners; 2 should be persons with experience in mental health services; 2 should be registered nurses; 1 should be a certified midwife; and 2 should be registered pharmacists.

Section 2(3) of the NHS Act 1946 empowered the Minister, after consultation with the Council, to constitute standing advisory committees to advise on particular services. Initially, 9 such committees were appointed - Medical, Dental, Pharmaceutical, Ophthalmic, Nursing, Maternity and Midwifery, Mental Health, Tuberculosis, and Cancer and Radiotherapy.

The Council was abolished in 1980.