11.11.14
Welsh NHS patient watchdogs to be reformed and strengthened
The Welsh government wants to reform the country’s local health watchdogs and boost their ability to monitor health services.
Health minister Mark Drakeford this week launched an eight-week consultation on plans to reform community health councils (CHCs) that would see the board of CHCs given more power to ensure consistency and effectiveness among them.
CHCs can refer decisions made by health boards to the health minister if they believe they are not in the best interest of patients. This power is to be strengthened should the reforms go ahead.
The plans being consulted on also include changes to CHC governance. They would see the chair selected in future as a major public appointment rather than elected by CHC members from amongst themselves, while its director would be upgraded with the title of chief executive.
The two CHCs serving northern and southern Powys would also be replaced by a single watchdog, resulting in one CHC for each health board.
Reform of the patient watchdogs was one of several recommendations in a review in 2012 by Prof Marcus Longley.
However a subsequent report released on Monday from former Welsh NHS chief executive Anne Lloyd called for CHCs to be stripped of their powers. She said they are “ill-equipped” to challenge health board decisions, in addition to questioning their expertise and whether they are representative of their communities.
However Drakeford said that "for the time being" CHCs should keep their power of referral.
CHCs existed in England too until 2003, when they were abolished and replaced by new organisations, which eventually evolved to become the local Healthwatch organisations.
The Welsh government wants to reform the country’s local health watchdogs and boost their ability to monitor health services.
Health minister Mark Drakeford this week launched an eight-week consultation on plans to reform community health councils (CHCs) that would see the board of CHCs given more power to ensure consistency and effectiveness among them.
CHCs can refer decisions made by health boards to the health minister if they believe they are not in the best interest of patients. This power is to be strengthened should the reforms go ahead.
The plans being consulted on also include changes to CHC governance. They would see the chair selected in future as a major public appointment rather than elected by CHC members from amongst themselves, while its director would be upgraded with the title of chief executive.
The two CHCs serving northern and southern Powys would also be replaced by a single watchdog, resulting in one CHC for each health board.
Reform of the patient watchdogs was one of several recommendations in a review in 2012 by Prof Marcus Longley.
However a subsequent report released on Monday from former Welsh NHS chief executive Anne Lloyd called for CHCs to be stripped of their powers. She said they are “ill-equipped” to challenge health board decisions, in addition to questioning their expertise and whether they are representative of their communities.
However Drakeford said that "for the time being" CHCs should keep their power of referral.
CHCs existed in England too until 2003, when they were abolished and replaced by new organisations, which eventually evolved to become the local Healthwatch organisations.
(Image: c. ShelleyC28, licensed under Creative Commons)
Tell us what you think – have your say below or email [email protected]