Members of the Community Health Council (CHC) met with members of Tenby Town Council last week, to provide a presentation on how the organisation works.

CHC representatives Sam Detten, Ray Hine and Chris Jones met with councillors ahead of their meeting, to explain how the independent statutory body, established by the Welsh Government, represents the interests of patients and the public to the NHS.

“We are effectively the patient watchboard here to improve NHS services and roll out support to people and patients when things do go wrong,” said Mr. Detten, explaining that the CHC were in place to scrutinise NHS plans and engage with the public.

He said that there were currently 220 open complaints to the NHS in the area, and that one of the real concerns for the locality was the level of GPs.

“The amount of people seeking us out has increased, so we want to broaden our awareness,” continued Mr. Detten.

“We are getting real-life stories from people, with facts and dates, that hopefully we can do something with and make a difference.

“The CHC has limited powers, for example we can’t bend a particular set of plans, but we do have the right to make a referral to the Health Minister,” he explained.

Mr. Hine said that they were constantly pushing the case behind the scenes at the new Cottage Hospital in Tenby for more services to come in.

“We want Tenby back to where we want it,” he said.

Mr. Detten told councillors that there were a couple of local authority vacancies for representatives coming up, and he would liaise with the town council on these voluntary roles.

Clr. Mrs. Caroline Thomas, who is also the secretary of the local South East Pembrokeshire Community Health Network (SEPCHN), thanked the CHC members for attending, and for raising awareness of the organisation.

Anyone wishing to contact the CHC over any issues around their NHS care and services, can ’phone 01646 697610 or email [email protected]

You can also view the organisation’s website at http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/904/home