South East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board , 1947-1974 South East Thames Regional Health Authority , 1974-1994

South East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board , 1947-1974 South East Thames Regional Health Authority , 1974-1994

When the National Health Service was established in 1948, it was divided into three parts.

The personal health services, including ambulances, health visitors, community nursing and midwifery were run by local authorities. General medical services, including general practice, dental and ophthalmic services were the responsibility of the executive councils. Hospitals were placed under the control of regional hospital boards. Within each region hospitals were formed into groups and responsibility for more routine administration was delegated to the hospital group management committee. Teaching hospitals were excluded from this system. They had their own boards of governors who were directly responsible to the Minister of Health. Within each hospital region joint committees were established to facilitate consultation and cooperation between teaching hospitals and the board's hospitals.

In 1974 the regional hospital boards, hospital management committees and most boards of governors were abolished. They were replaced by regional health authorities and area health authorities, which were responsible for the three formerly separate parts of the NHS. In 1982 the area health authorities were in turn abolished. Their powers were transferred to district health authorities.

In 1947 the South East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board was formed, responsible for Kent, East Sussex and south east London. In 1974 it was renamed as the South East Thames Regional Health Authority. In 1994 it merged with the South West Thames Regional Health Authority to form the South Thames Regional Health Authority.