Administer grants to hospitals, supervise public and licence private hospitals, and manage the Government Medical Scheme, District Nursing Scheme, Dental Health Service and State Pathology Laboratory. At the conclusion of World War I an imperial Red Cross fund was distributed among the Dominions and Colonies and part of Tasmania's share was put towards the establishment of a branch of the Bush Nursing Association. It was established within the Public Health Department and despite continuing difficulties obtaining staff it was on a permanent footing by 1924. In 1939 there were 18 centres operating. During World War II the name Country Nursing service came into use and ultimately it became known as the District Nursing Service. As part of a wider re-organisation of the Department the District Nursing Centres were transferred to the control of their local Hospital District Boards in 1968.~