Area health authorities were 90 bodies^[1] responsible for administering the National Health Service, established in England by the National Health Service Reorganisation Act 1973 in 1974.^[2] Each covered a geographical population which matched a Local Government territory. They co-ordinated primary care services and services requiring collaboration with local government. They were abolished in 1982 and their responsibilities transferred to the smaller district health authorities.^[3]

Membership of area health authorities:

• Chairman - appointed by the Secretary of State
• Fifteen members; sixteen in teaching areas.
• Four members representative of local authorities
• Others appointed by the regional health authority after consultation with universities associated with the region, bodies representative of the professions and any federation of workers' organisations.^[4]

• UK enterprise law
• Health regions of Canada, which were generally established during the same era