§ 46. Mr. Heathcoat-Amoryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he plans a different role for the community health councils in the light of the Griffiths report.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe report has implications for community health councils but suggests no radical change in their role. It stresses that the interests of patients and the community should be central to the approach to management in the National Health Service and recognises that community health councils provide one of the channels through which their views can be derived. We are at present consulting health authority chairmen and professional and other interested bodies, including community health councils, on the recommendations relating to management of the service. The responses will be considered carefully before we issue guidance on implementation in the new year.