The Patient Client Council

From April 2008 the existing four Health and Social Services Councils will be replaced by a new Patient and Client Council. The Minister described this as a ‘powerful single health and social care user’s body with a critically important role in engaging with the patient, the client and communities’. The PCC will have a role in helping people get the best from the service and provide effective advocacy when the service is not doing what it should be to meet patients’ just needs and demands.

Legislation is required to set up the new PCC and HSSCs have been actively involved in gauging peoples’ views on its role and functions. The strong messages coming from this engagement were that people want a PCC that is

	independent and properly resourced
	a strong, effective advocate
	well informed about health and social services issues
	a proactive body engaging with its public
	open and transparent
	visible and accessible through local presence
	strong with the authority to challenge
	working closely with community and voluntary groups

While final decisions will be made by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety we are keen that the PCC will have a local presence and be used as an effective voice for the people it represents taking into account the HSSCs’ experience.