New South Wales Consolidated Acts

HEALTH SERVICES ACT 1997 - SECT 10

10 Functions of local health districts

(cf AHS Act ss 19 and 20)
The functions of a local health district are as follows--

(a) generally to promote, protect and maintain the health of the residents of its area,

(b) to conduct and manage public hospitals, health institutions, health services and health support services under its control,

(c) to give residents outside its area access to such of the health services it provides as may be necessary or desirable,

(d) to achieve and maintain adequate standards of patient care and services,

(e) to ensure the efficient and economic operation of its health services and health support services and use of its resources,

(f) generally to consult and co-operate (as it considers appropriate) with any one or more of the following--

(i) the Health Care Complaints Commission constituted under the Health Care Complaints Act 1993 ,

(ii) health professionals practising in its area,

(iii) other individuals and organisations (including voluntary agencies, private agencies and public or local authorities) concerned with the promotion, protection and maintenance of health,

(f1) to co-operate with other local health districts and the Health Secretary in relation to the provision of services involving more than one public health organisation or on a State-wide basis,

(g) to investigate and assess health needs in its area,

(h) to plan future development of health services in its area, and, towards that end--

(i) to consult and plan jointly with the Ministry of Health and such other organisations as it considers appropriate, and

(ii) to support, encourage and facilitate the organisation of community involvement in the planning of those services, and

(iii) to develop strategies to facilitate community involvement in the planning of those services and to report on the implementation of those strategies in annual reports and to the Minister,

(i) to establish and maintain an appropriate balance in the provision and use of resources for health protection, health promotion, health education and treatment services,

(j) to provide services to persons with whom it has contracted or entered into an agreement under section 37(2),

(k) to administer funding for recognised establishments and recognised services of affiliated health organisations where that function has been delegated to it by the Minister under section 129,

(l) to provide training and education relevant to the provision of health services,

(m) to undertake research and development relevant to the provision of health services,

(n) to make available to the public information and advice concerning public health and the health services available within its area,

(o) to carry out such other functions as are conferred or imposed on it by or under this or any other Act or as may be prescribed by the regulations.