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16^th March, 2000

For immediate release

Diary Note

Threatened Watchdog conducts last ever

Casualty Watch

Waiting times in hospital accident and emergency units will come under the spotlight during the UK’s last ever Nationwide Casualty Watch, organised by The Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales (ACHCEW), on Monday 26^th March.

Over 150 Community Health Councils (CHCs) in England and Wales and Health and Social Services Councils in Northern Ireland will visit their local A&E units to survey how long patients have been waiting at 4.30pm on Monday 26^th March. They will record how many people are waiting for treatment, how long they have been waiting and whether they are in beds, on trolleys or in chairs.

The results will be embargoed until Thursday 29^th March. Last year’s survey revealed waits of over 24 hours in some hospitals.

ACHCEW’s Director, Donna Covey said:

"This is a very effective way of getting a snapshot view of how services are operating so that we can highlight where things are working well and where serious questions need to be asked. It is also an excellent example of the important work that CHC members do in representing the interest of the public in their local health service."

"The tragedy is that if the government gets its way and CHCs are abolished this will be the UK’s last ever Nationwide Casualty Watch."

-ends-

For further information please contact: Murray Benham on - 020 7609 8138

email: murray.benham@achcew.org.uk

website: www.achcew.org.uk

Notes to Editors

• CHCs were established in 1974 as patient advocates within the NHS. They are due to be abolished by the Health & Social Care Bill, which is currently making its way through parliament.
• Over the past 26 years they have been at the forefront of ensuring that the patients' voice is heard and their complaints listened to. Most recently, they played a pivotal role in ensuring that Rodney Ledward was exposed, and the victims of Harold Shipman were supported and the organ scandal at Alder Hey was brought to public attention.
• There are 700 staff in Community Health Councils across the country all of whom face an uncertain future. CHCs also have over 5,000 volunteer members who contribute freely of their time to act as unpaid watchdogs for NHS patients.
• There are 204 CHCs in England and Wales. Similar bodies exist in Scotland (Local Health Councils) & Northern Ireland (Health and Social Services Councils). The Welsh assembly has recently announced its intention of retaining and strengthening CHCs and the Scottish Assembly has announced its intention to retain Local Health Councils.
• Each year CHCs assist around 30,000 people with complaints.
• A recent report, 'Hidden Volunteers', conducted by Community Service Volunteers (CSV) estimated that CHC members contribute over £7.9million worth of free labour to the NHS.