Health Minister Edwina Hart has announced reforms to Community Health Councils (CHCs) in Wales following extensive consultation.
Under the changes, from 1 April, 17 of the existing 19 CHCs will be dissolved and six new CHCs created in their place, with the same boundaries as the Health Boards.  Each new CHC will consist of Local Committees, providing strong local links and having the same boundaries as the local authorities within the CHC's area. The two Powys CHCs will remain unchanged for the time being, while work continues on the future relationship between Powys Health Board and Local Authority.
The new CHCs will have the challenge of ensuring that the interests of patients are represented in the new larger health bodies, which came into being on 1 October 2009.
There will also be changes to the Board of CHCs in Wales, which will be made smaller and have its chair and vice chair elected by the whole membership. The Director will also become a full member of the Board. 
The recruitment process for appointing new members to the CHCs will begin shortly. The Minister will be looking for a wide range of members willing to take on a number of roles within the CHCs.
Mrs Hart said: "I have long recognised the important role of Community Health Councils in Wales. They have a valuable contribution in the development of local health services and are now unique to Wales.
 "The current CHC structure is no longer fit-for-purpose in the new NHS structure. The new-look CHC structure will strengthen and build on the good work CHCs already undertake on behalf of patients.
"The recently completed consultation received broad consensus on the way forward, although a number of concerns were expressed about member numbers and the naming of CHCs.  In terms of the numbers of members, I will review the arrangements after two years.  I intend to keep the names as proposed but I am content for CHCs to add a "tagline" to explain the area they cover, if they think this would be helpful to their local population. 
"I believe that the new structure will enhance the patients' voice in the new NHS in Wales and help support our efforts to ensure the NHS remains open and transparent in delivering and developing services."

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