Records of York Community Health Council

Council meeting agendas, 1991-2003; agendas and papers for the joint annual statutory meeting of North Yorkshire Health Authority and York Community Health Council, 2002; council minutes, 1974-2003; annual reports, 1975-1988, 1998-2003; council reports, 1980-2003; correspondence, 1989, 1996, 1998; parliamentary acts and statutory instruments, including acts, statutory instruments and associated circulars and correspondence relating to Community Health Councils, 1974-1996, National Health Service regulations, 1974, 1992, 1996, Access to Health Records Act, 1990, and Standing Orders of the Council, 2003; guidelines and instructions for the council, including statement of objectives, 1988, profile of the council, 1994, responsibilities of council chairperson, n.d., guidelines for council secretaries, 1982, handbook and code of conduct for council members, 1992, 1999, performance evaluation standards framework, n.d., guidelines for handling complaints, c.1997, public relations pack, n.d., guide to involvement with voluntary groups, 2001; guide to maternity services in York and Selby, 1999.

Community Health Councils were set up in the 1974 National Health Service reorganisation to represent the interests of consumers in the health districts. Their role was to investigate, inspect, advise and comment on local health care facilities. Each year they were to report to their establishing authority (ie the regional health authority).
As originally constituted, Community Health Councils were composed of thirty members, half of which were local authority appointees, and of the remainder, two thirds were from voluntary organisations and one third were appointed by the regional health authority.
After the NHS restructuring of 1982, Community Health Councils were reduced in size to 24 members, but with the same proportion of representatives. They also employed a very small number of officers.
The Community Health Council for York Health District was established by, and reported to, the Yorkshire Regional Health Authority. In 1974 it was co-terminus with the York Health District, and after 1982 with York Health Authority. Through subsequent NHS reorganisation it has continued to represent people in York Health District, an area covering York, Easingwold, Selby and Tadcaster. The base for the Community Health Council was originally at 10 Priory Street, York; later it moved to 33 Hungate York.
The Councils were abolished in England in 2003 and were replaced by Patient and Public Involvement Forums that were in turn superseded by Local Involvement Networks. In 2012 the Health and Social Care Act introduced new organisations called ‘Healthwatch,’ although these do not have the same statutory powers or responsibilities as the Health Councils.

Records are open to the public, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including data protection laws.

The archive was gifted to the Borthwick Institute in 2003.

Community Health Councils were set up in the 1974 National Health Service reorganisation to represent the interests of consumers in the health districts. Their role was to investigate, inspect, advise and comment on local health care facilities. Each year they were to report to their establishing authority (ie the regional health authority).
As originally constituted, Community Health Councils were composed of thirty members, half of which were local authority appointees, and of the remainder, two thirds were from voluntary organisations and one third were appointed by the regional health authority.
After the NHS restructuring of 1982, Community Health Councils were reduced in size to 24 members, but with the same proportion of representatives. They also employed a very small number of officers.
The Community Health Council for York Health District was established by, and reported to, the Yorkshire Regional Health Authority. In 1974 it was co-terminus with the York Health District, and after 1982 with York Health Authority. Through subsequent NHS reorganisation it has continued to represent people in York Health District, an area covering York, Easingwold, Selby and Tadcaster. The base for the Community Health Council was originally at 10 Priory Street, York; later it moved to 33 Hungate York.
The Councils were abolished in England in 2003 and were replaced by Patient and Public Involvement Forums that were in turn superseded by Local Involvement Networks. In 2012 the Health and Social Care Act introduced new organisations called ‘Healthwatch,’ although these do not have the same statutory powers or responsibilities as the Health Councils.

A typescript finding aid, to file level, is available for consultation in the searchroom of the Borthwick Institute.

Created by S. A. Shearn, 13.05.15.

A reprographics service is available to researchers subject to the access restrictions outlined above. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the document. Copies are supplied in accordance with the Borthwick Institute for Archives' terms and conditions for the supply of copies, and under provisions of any relevant copyright legislation. Permission to reproduce images of documents in the custody of the Borthwick Institute must be sought.

Further accruals are not expected.

For related material held by the Borthwick Institute, see the annual reports of the Council, 1975-2000, in Printed Reports and other Material.
Further records relating to the York Community Health Council, 1976-1979, are held at The National Archives in Kew as part of their series BS: Records of defunct temporary bodies.

Published

GB 193