THE FUTURE ORGANIZATION OF COMMUNITY-HEALTH COUNCILS

This paper examines the ways in which Community Health Councils (CHCs) might organize themselves in the light of the changes arising out of the purchaser-provider split. These changes have meant that they are o nly one among several agencies claiming to represent the interests of the user, with most fundamentally the Health Authorities themselves be ing entrusted with the duty of championing the people. Other means of consulting the public, which bypass the CHCs altogether, are also beco ming increasingly popular. Taking as its starting-point EL(95)142, ''G uidance on the changes in establishing arrangements'', this paper look s at practical ways in which CHCs might best organize themselves to fa ce the future. It does this by considering, in turn, membership issues , staffing, resources and accommodation, and the roles and relationshi ps of CHCs with regard to other agencies. It also, more radically, con siders their continued viability and relevance in the context of other means of tapping into or representing the public's views in the NHS o f the future.