§ 12. Ms LawrenceTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the outcome of the consultation on community health councils in Wales. [78070]
§ Mr. MichaelResponses to public consultation on "Involving the Public" confirmed the need to strengthen the role of Community Health Councils at all levels. The decisions I announced on 16 March were based on a careful consideration of the community interests to be represented in different parts of Wales, the local authority areas concerned and the need for an effective interface with NHS trusts and health authorities.
Increasing the number of CHCs to 28 based on nine "federations" will allow the Councils to retain and develop their local roots and at the same time exert more effective influence within the NHS. I will be meeting representatives of the CHCs shortly to discuss the implementation of the new arrangements.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.