§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what right of appeal exists for community health councils when representations have been rejected by the area health authority.
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§ Dr. OwenNo formal arrangement has been made. It is open to community health councils to make representations to regional health authorities and to Ministers where, exceptionally, circumstances justify this course.
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will extend the powers of the observers sent from community health councils to the meetings of area health authorities to permit them to receive all papers under discussion and to be able to discuss all matters within their reports back to their councils.
§ Dr. OwenCommunity health council observers should receive all papers to be discussed at area health authority meetings except those relating to confidential matters which the authority wishes to discuss without community health council observers being present. Such circumstances should be exceptional, but when they arise I do not think it would be appropriate for the council observers to receive papers relating to matters discussed in the absence of observers. Community health councils are free to discuss all matters reported back to them by their observers.
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will issue instructions that, where the Health Advisory Service has investigated and reported on any matter, the community health council governing the district concerned shall receive that report in full, be permitted to make representations on its content and give publicity to any such representations.
§ Dr. OwenNo. I have already asked health authorities to send community health councils a summary of the recommendations in Health Advisory Service reports relating to health matters. The effectiveness of the Health Advisory Service depends heavily on the confidence of the people interviewed to comment frankly. To preserve this confidence full Health Advisory Service reports are sent only to the managers, clinicians and staff directly concerned. Health authorities will consult the appropriate community health council on proposals for action which flow from a Health Advisory Service report and the CHC will be able to make representations on the same basis as for other proposals on which it is consulted.