Health Services Administration (Birmingham)
Health

John Hemming (Birmingham, Yardley, Liberal Democrat)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what bodies for administering health services covering the Birmingham area have been (a) created and (b) abolished since 1985.

Rosie Winterton (Minister of State, Department of Health; Doncaster Central, Labour)

In 1985, the Birmingham area was served by the Central Birmingham, East Birmingham, West Birmingham, South Birmingham and North Birmingham district health authorities (DHAs). In addition, Birmingham was also served by the Birmingham family practitioner committee (FPC) until 1990 when FPCs were superseded by family health services authorities (FHSAs). The Birmingham FHSA was formed in 1990 and was subsequently abolished in 1995 following the merger of FHSAs with health authorities.

The Central Birmingham DHA was abolished in 1991. However, the East Birmingham, West Birmingham, South Birmingham and North Birmingham DHAs remained in existence until 1994 when the North and South Birmingham DHAs were formed. These two health authorities were merged in April 1996 to form the Birmingham Health Authority.

Primary care trusts (PCTs) were established in 2002 and took over the role of the former HAs, which were abolished with effect from 31 March 2002. Since that date the following PCTs have been responsible for commissioning health services for residents in the Birmingham area; Eastern Birmingham PCT, Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT, North Birmingham PCT and South Birmingham PCT.

The West Midlands Regional Health Authority (RHA) was also in existence in 1985 until 31 March 1996 when the roles and functions of RHAs were transferred to the regional offices of the Department. The Regional Offices were subsequently abolished on 31 March 2003, prior to which strategic health authorities (SHA) had been set up on 1 April 2002. The Birmingham and the Black Country SHA is the local headquarters of the national health service for the Birmingham and surrounding areas.