Catalogue description National Health Service Staff Commission (England): Minutes, Papers and Correspondence

The National Health Service Staff Advisory Committee, set up in April 1972, was reconstituted as the National Health Service Staff Commission (England) in July 1973 by the Secretary of State for Social Services under powers given him by s.20 of the National Health Service Reorganisation Act 1973.

The English Commission consisted of a chairman, Sir Richard Hayward, and four members and a secretary seconded from the Department of Health and Social Security. Similar commissions were set up at the same time for Scotland and Wales. A Staff Commission for the Health and Personal Social Services was set up in Northern Ireland in 1971.

The object of the commissions was to safeguard the interests of staff to be transferred to the new regional and area health authorities by considering the selection and appointment of staff and the arrangements for transfers and for appeals. The commissioners were aided by assessors and by field officers and held extensive consultations with National Health Service unions, professional organisations and other interested parties. They arranged for the central advertising and short-listing for senior posts, circulated general information bulletins and heard appeals.

The English and Welsh Commissions were wound up in 1975.