UK - NHS in Wales Scrap 22 Local Health Boards

On 1st October 2009, the 22 local health boards in Wales were scrapped, and integrated with NHS trusts to form seven new local health boards. These will control all hospital and community services, in addition to GP and dentist funding. The new boards will also be responsible for meeting hospital targets on waiting times.

The new local health boards are:

• Betsi Cadwallader;
• Hywel Dda;
• Abertawe Bro Morganwg University;
• Powys Teaching;
• Cwm Taf;
• Cardiff and Vale; and
• Aneurin Bevan.

The only NHS trusts to remain are the Welsh Ambulance Service and Velindre Hospital in Cardiff, which specialises in cancer treatment.

Further reading - An in-depth analysis of the UK pharmaceutical market, including some background information on the NHS, is available from Espicom: The Pharmaceutical Market: United Kingdom (published September 2009)