The structure post 1 April 2009
A single Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) replaces the former four Health and Social Services Boards.
It will focus on commissioning, resource management, performance management and improvement.
It will identify and meet the needs of the local population through its five Local Commissioning Groups (LCGs).
Local Commissioning Groups will initially be sub-committees of the new board.
They are coterminous with the five Health and Social Care Trusts (HSCTs) and are named exactly the same although the codes are different.
The Health and Social Care Trusts provide health and social services at the primary care level.
The structure prior to 1 April 2009
Northern Ireland had four Health and Social Services Boards (HSSBs), which reported to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) of the Northern Ireland Executive.
HSSBs were introduced in 1973 and are constituted from groups of district council areas.
The HSSBs were named Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western.
In 2002 the HSSBs were subdivided into a total of 15 Local Health and Social Care Groups (LHSCGs), responsible for the planning and delivery of primary and community care in Northern Ireland.
Each LHSCG covered one or more district council areas, with the exceptions of Belfast and Strabane district council areas which each split between two LHSCGs.
HSCB and LCG names and codes
HSCB and LCG names and codes files are available, but please note that ONS Geography does not hold names and codes for the Health and Social Care Trusts (HSCTs).
