Through its research programme, the NBA aims to improve patient care by the development and introduction of advances in transfusion medicine. It maintains records of all patients awaiting organ transplants, provides a support service for the matching and allocation of donor organs, and carries out data follow-up and analysis on all organ transplants. There are regional offices in England and national offices in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The main role of the ENB is to validate courses and the delivery of such courses concerned with training in nursing, midwifery and health visiting. However, it also funds research and development into needs assessment, quality of care and evaluation.
Separate boards exist to undertake similar functions in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The HFEA is an independent body, funded partly by licensed treatment centres and partly by Government. A major function of the HFEA is to inspect and license infertility treatment centres. The NRPB is an independent Government body which acts as the national point of authoritative reference for radiological protection. The Board also advises Government on recommended international radiation standards. The PHLS was established for the diagnosis, prevention and control of communicable diseases in England and Wales.