FOR more than 25 years Herefordshire Community Health Council has looked after the interests of the public in the provision of NHS services in the county.

It has monitored the progress of new services, consulted and commented on proposed changes and taken up the cudgels on behalf of individual patients or communities with concerns or complaints.

The CHC, often called the public's NHS watchdog, has never been slow to give praise, or to criticise, and has always been in the forefront of making sure the interests of patients across Herefordshire came first.

Its members have come from a cross section of the public, 12 nominated by local authorities, eight chosen by 85 voluntary organisations in the county and four appointed by the NHS Executive.

But now its days are numbered, the Government decreeing that all Community Health Councils close down in September.

The Herefordshire watchdog, run by a small staff from its offices in St Ethelbert Street in Hereford held its last full council meeting last week.

Tributes

It will continue to maintain a presence in the office until September and members will continue to follow a full programme of visits and attend relevant meetings, but its public face is over.

Many tributes to its work over the years were expressed at the last meeting and typical of these were the comments of Ted Willmott, chairman of Herefordshire Primary Care Trust.

On behalf of the Trust he formally thanked the CHC for excellent work in ensuring the people's voice was heard.

The CHC in Herefordshire had been outstanding, delivering an effective mix of robust consumer research.

It had been equally robust, and constructive in supporting the public in dealing with real issues, such as the closure of Tarrington surgery.

"Other examples of your constructive and successful engagement are too numerous to mention, but the replacement of Kington Hospital, of Ledbury Hospital, and more recently the work of the ME group all spring to mind,'' said Mr Willmott.

"We have been challenged on the right issues, but always with professionalism, courtesy and constructive spirit... We shall miss working with you, it has been a delight to do so,'' he added.