Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales
  • ACHCEW
    • THE GOLDEN AGE OF PPI IN THE NHS
    • ABOUT ACHCEW
    • History of the NHS >
      • Historical Publications
      • NHS Consultants' Association
      • The Peckham Experiment
    • How ACHCEW Worked
    • Who's Who >
      • Toby Harris
      • A celebration - Michael English
      • In Memory of Mike Gerrard >
        • A Stifled Voice - Book Launch
      • In Memory of Murray Benham
      • In Memory of Bill Marks
      • In Memory of Tony Smythe
    • ACHCEW - Bless you!
    • The Legal Position >
      • THE ORIGIN
      • THE OBJECTIVES
      • Constitution - Standing Orders
      • Communications
      • Legal Advice and Procedures
      • Parliament - Acts-Bills-Briefings >
        • ACHCEW Briefing Papers re. NHS Community Care Bill ...
        • CHCs (Access to Information) Act 1988
      • Statutory Instruments - Regulations
    • ACHCEW Training Pack
    • Official Papers >
      • Abolition of CHCs and ACHCEW - 2003
      • Creation of CPPIH
      • DH + Social Security - Appendices
      • Forum Support Organisations + Patients' Forums
      • Guidance - Governance Documents
      • Termination Documents
      • Transition from CHCs to Patients' Forums >
        • CVS
        • Private Eye
      • The National Plan
    • The Commission - ACHCEW >
      • Correspondence - Interim Report
      • Publication
    • CASUALTY WATCH - History >
      • Casualty Watch - STEERING GROUP
      • Casualty Watch - PAPERS
      • Casualty Watch - MONTHLY RESULT
      • Casualty Watch - CHC REPORTS
      • Press Cuttings
  • COMMITTEES
    • Annual Reports
    • AGM / Conferences - Correspondence, Papers, Minutes
    • Officers' Meetings
    • Standing Committee >
      • Standing Committee Members
      • Standing Committee News
    • Transition Advisory Board - TAB
    • FINAL Meeting - 08 July 2003
  • CHCs
    • Introduction to CHCs
    • CHC Regulations
    • How CHCs Worked
    • Code of Conduct for CHC Members
    • Code of Practice on Consultation
    • Public Activities Material
    • CHCs in Action - (Publication)
    • The Politics of Consumer Representation - A Study of CHCs
    • The Legal History of CHCs
    • Legal - re. Closures
    • Directory of CHCs + LINks >
      • Brighton and District CHC
      • Brent CHC
      • Bristol CHC
      • Central + South Birmingham CHC
      • City and Hackney CHC
      • Croydon CHC
      • Greater London Association of CHCs - GLACHC
      • Haringey CHC
      • Islington CHC
      • Mid-Staffs CHC
      • SW Hertfordshire CHC
      • Southwark CHC
      • Wakefield CHC
    • Training and Skills for Members >
      • Skills for New CHC Members
      • Understanding the NHS and the Role of the CHC
      • Developing Skills as a CHC Member
      • Links to CHCs and Charities Database
      • Skills for CHC Chairs
      • Other Training Documents
      • PPI Short Courses >
        • Introduction and Surveys
        • Core 1 - User Involvement in Health and Social Care
        • Core 2 - What does User Involvement Mean?
        • Core 3 - Feeling Empowered in User Involvement
        • Theme 1 - Involvement in Service Planning and Improvement
        • Theme 2 - Involvement in Research and Activity
        • General Units
        • Link Person Handbook
  • Papers
    • IN-HOUSE Staff Publications - Introduction >
      • IN-HOUSE Publications - Listing
    • CHC Listings
    • CHC News >
      • CHC News - 1-94 (1975-1984)
      • CHC News - 1-112 (1986-1996)
      • CHC News - 1-37 (1996-2000)
    • CHC Public Activities Materials
    • NHS Dispute - Complaint
    • Presentations >
      • Presentations - PowerPoint
      • Presentations - Video
    • Foundation Trust Hospitals
    • GMC
    • Healthwatch England
    • Health Scrutiny
    • House of Commons Health Committee
    • ICAS
    • King's Fund
    • Normanton Hospital Inquiry
    • PALS
    • Local Involvement Networks - LINKs
    • PPI + LINks >
      • PPI Academic
      • PPI in the NHS >
        • The Effective PPI Forum - Guide
      • Patient Empowerment >
        • Power to the People in South East Thames
      • Public Representation of Health Bodies
      • Women's Health Publications >
        • Pennell Report on Women's Health (Publication)
        • Women's Health - Engaging Women
      • Enter and View
      • LINks Foundation Trusts
      • Kingston Hospital + Kingston PCT LINk
      • Public Involvement in the Private Finance Initiative
      • Response to the Health Committee Report
      • Private Hospitals
  • PUBLICATIONS
    • Publications - A
    • Publications - B
    • Publications - C
    • Publications - D-E-F-G
    • Publications - H-I-K-L-M
    • Publications - N-O-P-Q
    • Publications - R-S-T
    • Publications - U-V-W-Y
  • PRESS
    • ACHCEW's Press Releases
    • A&E + CASUALTYWATCH Press Cuttings
  • Cartoons
  • Gallery
    • Mass Lobby of Parliament
    • PHOTOS - Cafe Royal 08July2003
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About ACHCEW
​The Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales (ACHCEW) was set up in 1977 to provide a Forum for member Community Health Councils (CHCs), to provide information and advisory services to CHCs and to represent the user of health services at a national level. CHCs were not obliged to be members of ACHCEW but most were.
Legal Position
ACHCEW was established in 1977 under provisions in the National Health Service (Reorganisation) Act 1977 and the relevant statutory instrument is SI 1977 874 as amended by SI 1977 1204.

ACHCEW's constitution stated that its purpose was:

(a)   To provide a forum for the exchange of views and for the discussion of matters of common concern to member Councils, and when appropriate to express views on National Health Service matters to Ministers, Government Departments or other bodies, and to publicise such views.

(b)   To provide information and advisory services reasonably required by Community Health Councils to assist them in the performance of their functions.

​(c)  To promote the role, work and activities of Community Health Councils to Ministers, Government Departments and other bodies and to the public at large.

(d)   To perform such other functions as may be necessary or desirable in the interest of Community Health Councils.
Funding
ACHCEW was made up of individual CHCs which paid an annual subscription based on their own annual budgets. At the time of Abolition 198 (out of 204) CHCs belonged to ACHCEW. Additional grants from the Department of Health for running legal and training services supplemented ACHCEW's income.
Structure
The policy of the Association was determined by an Annual General Meeting of all member CHCs. Between AGMs the business of the Association is conducted by a Standing Committee which had 3 representatives from each of the English Regions and three from Wales and four honorary officers (Chair, two Vice-Chairs and Treasurer). The Standing Committee met six times each year.
​Role
Although one of ACHCEW's main tasks was to channel the views of CHCs to the Secretary of State for Health, CHCs frequently made direct representations to the Department of Health. This autonomy of CHCs and the accountability of ACHCEW were the two most important features of the Association's relationship with its membership.

A number of functions were carried out within the ACHCEW office. These were:

(a)     Providing an information service to member CHCs. The information service maintained a computerised database of information: reports, surveys, minutes, annual reports and press releases from CHCs, together with publications and journals from a wide variety of sources whose contents were of relevance to CHCs. CHCs made considerable use of this service and enquiries ran at around 2,000 per year. The Association was also able to give advice and information on legislation and departmental guidance in the health policy field.

(b)     CHC Listings were produced six times a year and sent to CHC offices. It contained listings of new CHC reports, recent publications and forthcoming events. It also provided space for CHCs to request information from other CHCs.

(c)     ACHCEW also issued Health Perspectives and briefing documents on a range of policy and legal issues. These were primarily for the information of member CHCs but also circulated more widely to raise public awareness of the work done by CHCs.

(d)     ACHCEW's legal service provided advice to CHCs in response to specific enquiries. In the year 2000 it dealt with over 900 requests for legal advice with an average response time of just one day. In conjunction with ACHCEW's training department, legal training and seminars have been provided on human rights issues in the health service. Work was also carried out on key legal issues of relevance to CHCs, patients and the public, such as patient confidentiality, data protection and access to information. The legal team also produced briefing material and case law updates for CHCs.

(e)     ACHCEW also organised a substantial range of training events for CHC members and staff. The Training Department offered 80 training days in 20 locations across England and Wales. 900 CHC members attended training on a wide range of topics from Mental Health issues to Media Skills.

(f)     Maintaining a high public profile. The Association was regarded as a leading commentator on health issues. We therefore serviced a high volume of press enquiries from the regional, national and specialist press. ACHCEW also conducted its own campaigning activity, in which media work performed a crucial role. As part of the press function, ACHCEW regularly produced articles, press releases and statements on key issues of relevance to CHCs, patients and the public.

(g)     ACHCEW provided the secretariat for the all-party Parliamentary group on CHCs and also briefed MPs and Peers of all parties on issues of importance to CHCs.

(h)     ACHCEW acted as a direct national link with the Department of Health and other branches of government, as well as with professional bodies and national voluntary organisations. The Association was represented on a range of Departmental and other committees.

(i)     Responding to consultation documents from the Department of Health and other organisations.

(j)     Maintaining our website, www.achcew.org.uk.

(k)     Producing surveys, in conjunction with member CHCs. These included the high profile nationwide Casualty Watch.
CONTACT
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GLOSSARY
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ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCILS
1974 - 2003


This site is being maintained on a voluntary basis by Polly Healy ..._________________________________________________________
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The ACHCEW Memorial Badge
  • ACHCEW
    • THE GOLDEN AGE OF PPI IN THE NHS
    • ABOUT ACHCEW
    • History of the NHS >
      • Historical Publications
      • NHS Consultants' Association
      • The Peckham Experiment
    • How ACHCEW Worked
    • Who's Who >
      • Toby Harris
      • A celebration - Michael English
      • In Memory of Mike Gerrard >
        • A Stifled Voice - Book Launch
      • In Memory of Murray Benham
      • In Memory of Bill Marks
      • In Memory of Tony Smythe
    • ACHCEW - Bless you!
    • The Legal Position >
      • THE ORIGIN
      • THE OBJECTIVES
      • Constitution - Standing Orders
      • Communications
      • Legal Advice and Procedures
      • Parliament - Acts-Bills-Briefings >
        • ACHCEW Briefing Papers re. NHS Community Care Bill ...
        • CHCs (Access to Information) Act 1988
      • Statutory Instruments - Regulations
    • ACHCEW Training Pack
    • Official Papers >
      • Abolition of CHCs and ACHCEW - 2003
      • Creation of CPPIH
      • DH + Social Security - Appendices
      • Forum Support Organisations + Patients' Forums
      • Guidance - Governance Documents
      • Termination Documents
      • Transition from CHCs to Patients' Forums >
        • CVS
        • Private Eye
      • The National Plan
    • The Commission - ACHCEW >
      • Correspondence - Interim Report
      • Publication
    • CASUALTY WATCH - History >
      • Casualty Watch - STEERING GROUP
      • Casualty Watch - PAPERS
      • Casualty Watch - MONTHLY RESULT
      • Casualty Watch - CHC REPORTS
      • Press Cuttings
  • COMMITTEES
    • Annual Reports
    • AGM / Conferences - Correspondence, Papers, Minutes
    • Officers' Meetings
    • Standing Committee >
      • Standing Committee Members
      • Standing Committee News
    • Transition Advisory Board - TAB
    • FINAL Meeting - 08 July 2003
  • CHCs
    • Introduction to CHCs
    • CHC Regulations
    • How CHCs Worked
    • Code of Conduct for CHC Members
    • Code of Practice on Consultation
    • Public Activities Material
    • CHCs in Action - (Publication)
    • The Politics of Consumer Representation - A Study of CHCs
    • The Legal History of CHCs
    • Legal - re. Closures
    • Directory of CHCs + LINks >
      • Brighton and District CHC
      • Brent CHC
      • Bristol CHC
      • Central + South Birmingham CHC
      • City and Hackney CHC
      • Croydon CHC
      • Greater London Association of CHCs - GLACHC
      • Haringey CHC
      • Islington CHC
      • Mid-Staffs CHC
      • SW Hertfordshire CHC
      • Southwark CHC
      • Wakefield CHC
    • Training and Skills for Members >
      • Skills for New CHC Members
      • Understanding the NHS and the Role of the CHC
      • Developing Skills as a CHC Member
      • Links to CHCs and Charities Database
      • Skills for CHC Chairs
      • Other Training Documents
      • PPI Short Courses >
        • Introduction and Surveys
        • Core 1 - User Involvement in Health and Social Care
        • Core 2 - What does User Involvement Mean?
        • Core 3 - Feeling Empowered in User Involvement
        • Theme 1 - Involvement in Service Planning and Improvement
        • Theme 2 - Involvement in Research and Activity
        • General Units
        • Link Person Handbook
  • Papers
    • IN-HOUSE Staff Publications - Introduction >
      • IN-HOUSE Publications - Listing
    • CHC Listings
    • CHC News >
      • CHC News - 1-94 (1975-1984)
      • CHC News - 1-112 (1986-1996)
      • CHC News - 1-37 (1996-2000)
    • CHC Public Activities Materials
    • NHS Dispute - Complaint
    • Presentations >
      • Presentations - PowerPoint
      • Presentations - Video
    • Foundation Trust Hospitals
    • GMC
    • Healthwatch England
    • Health Scrutiny
    • House of Commons Health Committee
    • ICAS
    • King's Fund
    • Normanton Hospital Inquiry
    • PALS
    • Local Involvement Networks - LINKs
    • PPI + LINks >
      • PPI Academic
      • PPI in the NHS >
        • The Effective PPI Forum - Guide
      • Patient Empowerment >
        • Power to the People in South East Thames
      • Public Representation of Health Bodies
      • Women's Health Publications >
        • Pennell Report on Women's Health (Publication)
        • Women's Health - Engaging Women
      • Enter and View
      • LINks Foundation Trusts
      • Kingston Hospital + Kingston PCT LINk
      • Public Involvement in the Private Finance Initiative
      • Response to the Health Committee Report
      • Private Hospitals
  • PUBLICATIONS
    • Publications - A
    • Publications - B
    • Publications - C
    • Publications - D-E-F-G
    • Publications - H-I-K-L-M
    • Publications - N-O-P-Q
    • Publications - R-S-T
    • Publications - U-V-W-Y
  • PRESS
    • ACHCEW's Press Releases
    • A&E + CASUALTYWATCH Press Cuttings
  • Cartoons
  • Gallery
    • Mass Lobby of Parliament
    • PHOTOS - Cafe Royal 08July2003