HEALTH bosses at West Essex Community Health Council have promised to continue their services for as long as necessary, despite the government's renewed threat to abolish the watchdog organisations.o

The abolition move forms part of the NHS Reform and Health Care Professions Bill published by the government.

The proposed abolition has provoked intense criticism from professional bodies, patient organisations, MPs and health campaigners.

West Essex Community Health Council chief officer Fiona Gilmour said: "Our main concern is that if the government does abolish CHCs they are replaced with something better. As yet we're unclear what would be better but I definitely feel as if we're going in the right direction. However the process is very complex.

"We're concerned that too many organisations are trying to be set up. The proposals so far have not been linked together very well and it's very confusing to the public."

Community health council's were set up in 1974 as a watchdog for the NHS. Over the years they have been at the forefront of ensuring that patient's views and complaints are heard.

Miss Gilmour added: "In principal if CHCs are going to be abolished they should be replaced with something that is better and as long as the proper mechanisms are in place for the public then we feel fairly positive about it.

"This CHC is very proactive in a number of areas. We operate in such a way that we can influence and improve the services available to people. At the moment if people raise issues with us we do see improvements. We hope that whatever replaces us can continue to do that and if they have more resources than we do then maybe they will be able to do that better than we can."

The West Essex community health council has funding to provide its service until April 2003.

Miss Gilmour said: "At the moment we're continuing to provide a complaints service and are fortunate that our staff are still here and our members are still active.

"It's important that people can still contact us if they want to make a complaint and we will continue to do that for as long as possible."

December 28, 2001 13:10