Community Health Council Staff

EDM number 16 in 2003-04, proposed by Tim Yeo on 26/11/2003.

That this House expresses its gratitude to all the dedicated community health council (CHC) staff for their excellent work in representing patients prior to their closure on 1st December; condemns the lack of planning that has led to continued uncertainty over the timing of CHC closures; notes that the announcement of this change came shortly before the CHCs were due to close and that as a result many CHCs have been understaffed and under strength; expresses concern that despite Ministerial assurances given to Parliament on 6th September 2001 that there would be a pathway for CHC staff who wanted to participate in the new system, this pathway has in effect been cut off by the new regulations; and regrets the loss of expertise available to Patients' Forums due to the way in which the transfer from CHCs has been conducted.

This motion has been signed by a total of 65 MPs.