APPENDIX 10
Memorandum submitted by the British Psychological
Society—Welsh Branch
COMMUNITY HEALTH
COUNCILS IN
WALES, CLAUSE
1 AND SCHEDULE
1.
The retention of Community Health Councils (CHCs)
in Wales and the extension of their responsibilities recognises
the importance of their function in advocating for members of
the public issues concerning the delivery of health care. It is
consistent with the Welsh Assembly Government's commitment to
give patients and the public more say in the running of NHS services
and the intention to increase the proportion of appointments made
to the CHCs through open advertisment is a progressive step. Contact
with CHCs provides a much-valued channel of communication through
which to hear patients views on their local services. This can
be used then be used to develop services that meet local need.
Clinical Psychologists and Counselling Psychologists
working in the NHS in Wales welcome the opportunity to work in
partnership with CHCs to address patients' and the Public's concerns.
Regulations' requiring Local Health Boards and
other NHS bodies to consult CHCs on matters relating to health
services will strengthen their power to advocate for the public
and is welcomed.
WALES CENTRE
FOR HEALTH,
CLAUSES 2 AND
3 AND SCHEDULE
2.
The creation of the Wales Centre for Health
with duties to provide information and advice to the public on
matters related to the protection and improvement of Health in
Wales is welcomed. Clinical and Counselling Psychologists have
historically not had much contact with Public Health Departments
but alongside Health Psychology colleagues we are keen to offer
support and consultation on psychological aspects of health care.
We would wish to offer information and evidence from the psychological
literature, which might be useful to policy makers. We would like
to offer support in any research or training activities carried
out by Wales Centre for Health where expertise in psychological
processes might be useful. We feel that the Clinical, Counselling
and Health Psychologists have a valuable part to play in developing
health promotion strategies.
HEALTH PROFESSIONS
WALES, CLAUSES
4, 5 AND 6
It is not clear what the role of the Health
Professions Wales is in relation to Clinical or Counselling Psychologists
currently, although we recognise that in having the capacity to
carry out delegated functions of the newly created Health Professions
Council. It may have a major role in the appraisal of training
courses, continuing professional development, regulation and disciplinary
process of all applied psychologists working in the Health Service
in Wales. The British Psychological Society will take a keen interest
in the development of Health Professions Wales and hope to be
consulted at an early stage on these matters.
The development of a code of conduct for healthcare
support workers currently being undertaken is welcomed.
Dr Dominic Upton
Chair of the Welsh Board
25 June 2002
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