NHS Wales
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
NHS Wales (Welsh: GIG Cymru) is the publicly funded healthcare system of Wales. NHS Wales was originally formed as part of the same NHS structure created by the National Health Service Act 1946 but powers over the NHS in Wales came under the Secretary of State for Wales in 1969[1]. In turn, responsibility for NHS Wales was passed to the Welsh Assembly and Executive under devolution in 1999. NHS Wales provides public healthcare in Wales and employs some 90,000 staff, making it Wales’ biggest employer.[2]The Minister for Health and Social Services is the person within the Welsh Assembly Government who holds cabinet responsibilities for both health and social care in Wales.
Most people in Wales will have access to a District General Hospital which provides a range of services on an outpatient, inpatient and day case basis. Some of these hospitals also provide specialist services such as burns and plastics and cardiac surgery. NHS Wales also provides community services which includes district nurses, health visitors, midwives and community based speech therapists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
Contents |
[edit] Health Boards
Local Health Boards (LHBs) were created in 2003 to replace Health Authorities in Wales [1] [2]. A Welsh NHS Trust will typically administer all hospitals in a region, as well as all community care and mental health functions. There are 12 regional Trusts that cover groups of local authority areas, as well as one further Trust for the Welsh Ambulance Service and another, Velindre [3], for the operation of nationwide agencies and services.
Wales largest teaching hospital, the University Hospital of Wales based in Cardiff is the largest hospital outside London and 3rd largest in the United Kingdom.
[edit] Other NHS Wales bodies
Another important organisation in the structure is Health Commission Wales. This is an executive agency of the Welsh Assembly Government whose primary role is to centrally organise and fund all Tertiary care and other highly specialist services. It also provides advise and guidance about specialist services to other parts of NHS Wales.
NHS Direct is also available in Wales, with callers being given the option of talking in Welsh or English.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Website of NHS Wales
- History of the Tredegar Medical Aid Society
- Maps of all Uk Hospitals and Accommodation
 |
This Wales-related article is a stub. You can help by expanding it. |
