In July 1968, the Minister of Health, Kenneth Robinson, published a green paper, Administrative structure of the medical and related services in England and Wales.
It triggered years of debate about the relationship between the NHS, local authorities, and health and social care.
[2] Following the election of the Conservative government of 1970, the new Secretary of State, Keith Joseph, amended Crossman’s 1970 proposals.
[6] Under the 1980 Act, RHAs retained their responsibilities for monitoring and implementing district plans and financial control but were expected to 'stand back' from the activities of the DHAs.
[6] On their creation in 1974, there were 14 RHAs, but they were reduced in number to 8 in 1994 before being abolished altogether in 1996 and replaced by eight regional offices of the NHS Executive as a result of the Health Authorities Act 1995.
[7] The RHAs closely followed the areas of the previous regional hospital boards established in 1947, but in many cases they were renamed.