Community Health Councils (CHC's)

CHC's were set up as local independent bodies in 1974 to represent the interests in the health service of the public in each locality.

• Providing Information & Advice:  CHC's provide information & advice fo that people can make better use of services; they also assist those wishing to make complaints abouth health services.



• Working with Health providers:  CHC's are statutory bodies and have rights to information, to be consulted and to meet with NHS Trusts.  They have a duty to produce an annual report of their activities.



• Community Links:  CHC's work with local groups to help all sections of the community make their views heard by health service managers.  They also identify services that are needed but not yet provided.



• Finding our people's views:  CHC's use different ways to find out local views so that they can be taken into account in the planning and running of services.