IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0074 HA/ST
Held at: London Metropolitan Archives
Title: SOUTH THAMES REGIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITY
Date(s): 1947-1992
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 15.42 linear metres
Name of creator(s): South Thames Regional Health Authority
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
When the National Health Service was established in 1948, it was divided into three parts.
The personal health services, including ambulances, health visitors, community nursing and midwifery were run by local authorities. General medical services, including general practice, dental and ophthalmic services were the responsibility of the executive councils. Hospitals were placed under the control of regional hospital boards. Within each region hospitals were formed into groups and responsibility for more routine administration was delegated to the hospital group management committee. Teaching hospitals were excluded from this system. They had their own boards of governors who were directly responsible to the Minister of Health. Within each hospital region joint committees were established to facilitate consultation and cooperation between teaching hospitals and the board's hospitals.
In 1974 the regional hospital boards, hospital management committees and most boards of governors were abolished. They were replaced by regional health authorities and area health authorities, which were responsible for the three formerly separate parts of the NHS. In 1982 the area health authorities were in turn abolished. Their powers were transferred to district health authorities.
In 1947 the South East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board was formed, responsible for Kent, East Sussex and south east London. Similarly, the South West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board was formed, responsible for Surrey, West Sussex and south west London. In 1974 they were renamed as South West Thames Regional Health Authority and South East Thames Regional Health Authority. In 1994 they were merged to form the South Thames Regional Health Authority.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Records of the South Thames Regional Health Authority and predecessors, 1947-1992. This collection consists of minutes and papers of various committees including: Mental Health Committee; Finance and General Purposes Committee; Regional Management Team; Regional Medical Advisory Committee; Advisory Appointments Committee; Regional Manpower Committee; Regional Research Committee; Regional Pharmaceutical Committees; Regional Capital Planning Team; London Ambulance Committee.
Also papers relating to various aspects of management of health services including regional strategic planning; reports; correspondence; copies of The Hospitals Year Book and directories of Hospital and Specialist Services; statistical booklets; papers regarding disaster management and major incidents; papers regarding staffing and personnel management; papers relating to building maintenance; and financial accounts.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
Records arranged in one series: HA/ST/001-177: administration and finance.
Conditions governing access:
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copyright to these records rests with the depositor.
Physical characteristics:
Fit
Finding aids:
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
Deposited in two accessions in May 1996 and May 1998.
ALLIED MATERIALS
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Rules or conventions: Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Date(s) of descriptions: November 2009 to February 2010