Improving NHS Services

The role of Community Health Councils when the NHS wants to change services

Change happens in the NHS every day in hospitals, in GP practices and in other community services.

This happens for many reasons. Our health needs change. Medical advances lead to different ways of providing health care. Workforce and other challenges can also drive changes in the way NHS services are provided.

Local health boards must plan, design and develop NHS services with local people, from the start. This helps to make sure local health services meet the existing and future needs of the people and communities they serve.

Health Boards must tell their local CHC when they want to make a change that affects people. CHCs must work with their Health Board whenever it is thinking about making a change.

CHCs represent the interests of public and patients. CHCs make sure that NHS organisations ask people for their views and listen to what they have to say.