Health to 1972
The same health and poor law system applied to all Ireland as of 1921. Some poor unions and infirmaries became district hospitals. By the beginning of World War II, there were 12 district hospitals, 6 county infirmaries, 12 union infirmaries, and several voluntary hospitals.
The Ministry of Health and Local Government was established in 1944.
The National Health Insurance Act, NI, introduced free GP treatment for insured persons.
Statutory health committees were established in each county and county borough, assuming the duties of urban and district councils in 1946. They took over functions related to health matters, and county welfare committees were also set up.
The Public Health Tuberculosis Act, NI, 1946, established the Northern Ireland Tuberculosis Authority to tackle the tuberculosis problem. The Health Services Act (NI) of 1948 introduced free and comprehensive medical treatment similar to that provided under the NH system.
The Tuberculosis Authority, consisting of members nominated by councils and the minister, took over tuberculosis treatment functions from counties. Within a decade, it had reduced the tuberculosis death rate by 85 percent.
The Hospitals Authority was established in 1948. In 1958, the Tuberculosis Authority was merged with the Hospitals Authority. Members of the authority were appointed by the Minister for Health and Local Government. It worked in conjunction with the General Health Services Board. The department aimed to promote and coordinate various services. The authority members, subject to consultation, were appointed by the ministry.
Under the Health Services Amendment Act of 1967, the authority became an agent of the Minister of Health and Social Services. The General Health Service Board retained direct responsibility for providing medical, dental, pharmaceutical, and ophthalmic services, functioning as a single Northern Ireland authority.
The Hospitals Authority assumed various functions, including ambulance services, administration, management of hospitals, provision of mental health services, institutional care, and community care.
The Health Services Act, NI, of 1948 transferred existing mental hospitals to the Hospitals Authority. The Mental Health Act, NI, 1948, provided the first comprehensive legislation related to ascertaining care, supervision, training, and occupation of individuals requiring special care.
The Mental Health Act, NI, 1961, aligned the treatment of psychiatric illness more closely with physical illness.