| WESTERN
HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES COUNCIL
What is the Western Health and Social
Services Council?
The
Western Health and Social Services Council is
an independent organisation which represents the
views and opinions of the general public in all
areas of health and social services.
There
are four Councils in Northern Ireland - one in
each Health Board area. They are known as the
Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Health
and Social Services Councils.
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What does the Western Health and Social
Services Council do?
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Provides
information and advice on health and social services
issues. |
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Offers
advice, information and help to people who want
to complain about a service. |
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Monitors
the quality of local services. |
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Works
with local groups to help them give their opinions
on health and social services. |
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Acts
for the public to improve the range, type and quality
of services. |
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Carries
out independent surveys to find out what the public
thinks about services. |
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Represents
the public's interests in responding to consultation
about health and social services. |
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Regularly
visits health and social services facilities. |
Does the Western Health and Social Services
Council have any legal rights?
Health
and Social Services Councils have the following legal
rights:
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To
be consulted by the Health and Social Services Board
on any major developments or changes in services. |
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To
have formal meetings with Health and Social Services
Boards. |
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To
enter and inspect health and social services facilities. |
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To
receive any information which it needs to do its
job. |
Who are the members of
the Western Health and Social Services Council?
Council
members are all local people who have an interest in
health and social services issues. Members are drawn
from city, district and borough councils, voluntary
and community organisations and other interested groups.
The Council is supported by full-time staff. Members
of Health and Social Services Councils agree to keep
to a code of conduct.
Can anyone become a member
of a Health and Social Services Council?
Anyone can apply
to become a member of a Health and Social Services Council,
but there are some people who can't become members.
(Please ask a Health and Social Services Council for
more details.) The Councils work best when a wide cross
section of the population is involved. If you would
like to become a member of a Health and Social Services
Council please contact us by clicking on the contact
us page or reply to one of the public advertisements
which appear in local newspapers from time to time.
Where does the Health Council
fit into the Northern Ireland Health Service?
Click
here to see the structure
of the Northern Ireland Health Service
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