Ministry of Health: Local Health Authority Services: Registered Files (94,200 Series)

From 5 July 1948, when the National Health Service Act 1946 came into operation, to its reorganisation in April 1974, the National Health Service was not a unified service. It was administered in three parts: Hospital and Specialist Services, General Practitioner Services, and Local Health Authority Services Overall responsibility rested with the Minister of Health, assisted by the Central Health Services Council.

County councils and county borough councils, through their health committees, acted as local health authorities (LHAs). They received an Exchequer grant to cover half the cost of the services they provided; the other half being met from local rates.

Under Part 3 of the National Health Service Act 1946, local health authorities were made responsible for those services primarily concerned with health care in the community. These services, previously under the control of district medical officers, were a direct development from the charitable services provided by parishes for the poor, old and infirm. These services included ambulances, maternity and child welfare (including supply of welfare foods), health visiting and home nursing, vaccination and immunisation, domestic help and after-care of the sick and mentally ill.

The act also introduced the idea of health centres, to be provided by LHAs, bringing together some or all of the services of the NHS.