letters

Chris Dabbs makes some interesting points about the way forward for community health councils (Sold a pup, 20 May) - a much- needed debate. The excellent initiative by the Association of CHCs for England and Wales in establishing the all-party parliamentary group and the commission will help to drive this forward.

But there is a certain element of doublethink operating in the NHS on this issue. On the one hand, the NHS is scratching its head about how best to engage with the public on planning and policy development. At the same time it is studiously ignoring the members of the public with whom it is already engaged through an established national network - the 206 CHCs it has funded for the past 25 years.

Active CHC members bring the public perspective into the NHS. The NHS may not always like what it hears, but that goes with its territory. CHCs are member-led organisations, although hard-pressed chief officers can testify to the difficulties of coping with members who do not play an active part in their CHC.

It is clear that the two objectives of engaging with the public and revitalising CHCs are one and the same. To achieve both, clear initiatives are required to open up the member recruitment process. It is extraordinary that CHCs have little formal say over who is recruited to their number.

CHCs are a public service, and the public's views need to be obtained on what their role should be. The national survey of patients would be a useful vehicle for seeking such views. It would be interesting to hear the public's views on whether they would be happy to dispense with the only free, informed complaints help available to them when they most need it. Finally, we would like to point out that a puppy will only become a fully grown dog if its owner feeds and nurtures it.

Elizabeth Manero

Chair

Regional Association of London CHCs

Frank English

Chair

Greater London Association of CHCs