| Description | Papers comprise minutes and supporting papers of the full Council, 1990-2003, including annual general meetings and special meetings; annual statutory meetings, 1998-2002; sub-committees (Executive, Acute Services and Community Services), and additional working groups (Finance & General Purposes, Mental Health, NHS Plan, Standing Orders, Childrens/Women's, Care of the Elderly, Continuing Care Feebback).
Also includes papers relating to the Community Health Council's project work (D6097/14-22), including Conferences for Older People, 2001-2003, Elderly Action Research Project, 1992-1996, High Peak Health Panel, Wessington Branch Surgery Consultation, Hospital Discharge Audit, Maternity Services User Group, and Casualty Watch, 1999-2002. |
| Administrative History | Community Health Councils (CHCs), established in 1974, were independent, statutory bodies which represented the interests of the general public in the National Health Service - consumer councils for the NHS. The District Health Authority had responsibility for purchasing efficient health services for the population of its particular district. The basic duty of each CHC was to keep under review the operation of the health service in the district and make recommendations for improvement. In addition, the CHC provided advice and information to the public about health services and help with complaints, and represented the interests of local people in planning services and responding to consultation.
About half of the members of CHCs were appointed by local authorities, approximately one third by voluntary organisations interested in health matters and one sixth by the Secretary of State for Health.
Reforms mean that by 2004, Community Health Councils will be replaced by a new system of patient representation. At a national level, a Modernisation Board will have a third of its membership drawn from patient and citizenship organisations. Local residents will be approached to sit on health authority Independent Local Advisory Forums (ILAFs). There will be Patients' Forums in each NHS Trust, each of which will also have their own Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS), which patients and carers can approach to resolve problems.
North Derbyshire Community Health Council:
The area covered by North Derbyshire Community Health Council comprised the geographical area served by North Derbyshire Health, i.e. Bolsover District Council, Chesterfield Borough Council, North East Derbyshire District Council, High Peak Borough Council (except the area of the former borough of Glossop and the parishes of Charlesworth, Chisworth and Tintwistle), Derbyshire Dales District Council (part - former Bakewell UD, Bakewell RD and Matlock UD).
Meetings of the Full Council took place bi-monthly, and were open to the Public. The Annual General Meeting was held in September or July. Council Members established a number of working groups, including those addressing issues relating to mental health, children/women and care of the elderly. These working groups met to consider and agree action on issues falling within their parameter, undertook monitoring visits to hospitals, community or clinic based services, prepared reports and developed relationships with professional colleagues in the NHS and other agencies, client groups and organisations with an interest in that area of health services. By the mid 1990s the Council divided its work into three main areas, each covered by a Sub-Committee: Acute Services, Community Services and the Executive Group.
The work of the North Derbyshire Community Health Council also included project work tackling issues of concern to local users - particularly vulnerable groups in the community. Projects included work with elderly people, users of mental health services and users of maternity services. |
| Custodial History | Transferred to Derbyshire Record Office under Section 4(1) of the Public Records Act in 2003. |