| Administrative History | Following the National Health Service Act, 1946, Executive Councils of the Ministry of Health were constituted in 1948 for each health authority, that is, for each county and county borough. Members were appointed by the local Health Authority for the area of the Executive Council; some by the Minister of Health, and some by the local Medical, Dental and Pharmaceutical Committees.
They were responsible for liaising with medical practitioners, dentists, opticians and pharmacists for the provision of their services and replaced the Insurance Committees set up under the National Insurance Act, 1911, created to administer medical, sanatorium and sickness benefits for insured persons.
Under the National Health Services Reorganisation Act, 1973, each newly created Area Health Authority set up a Family Practitioner Committee, and as from 1 April 1974 the functions of the old Executive Councils were transferred to them. |