Commentary on Sections Patient and public involvement Section 24: Health and well-being strategies in Wales
128.Section 24 is intended to give effect to the Assembly’s commitment to ensure joint working in the development and implementation of local strategies for health and well-being.
129.Subsection (1) places a duty on each newly created LHB and each Local Authority in Wales to formulate and implement a health and well-being strategy for the area. (LHBs and Local Authorities will be co-terminous).
130.Subsection (3) requires the LHBs and Local Authorities to have regard to their strategy in the exercise of their functions.
131.Subsection (4) empowers the Assembly, by regulations, to set the time period to which the strategy will apply.  Under subsections (5) and (6) further provision about such strategies may be made by the Assembly by regulations.  Such regulations may in particular require LHBs and Local Authorities to co-operate with other prescribed bodies such as NHS trusts, voluntary bodies and local businesses in formulating their strategy (subsection (6)(a)) The regulations may also cover such issues as steps to be taken before formulation of the strategy (subsection (6)(b)) and measures to avoid duplication between health and well-being strategies and other strategies prescribed in the regulations (subsection (6)(g)).  This might include, for example, the Community Care Plan under section 46 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (the 1990 Act).