Telephone:, Fax:

E-mail:

ChiefOfficer : Mrs D W Shaw, BSc(Hons), FRSH

Community Health Councils (CHCs)were set up as local independent bodies in 1974 to represent theinterests of the public in the National Health Service. Therehave been major changes in the NHS since then, but CHCs continueto have a major role in representing local people. CHCs arestatutory bodies and have rights to information, to be consulted,and to meet with Health Authorities and NHS Trusts. Members havea variety of local links and contacts that they can use.

The Anglesey Community HealthCouncil consists of twenty voluntary members who work with two paid staff based at an office inLlangefni. The Council:

• keeps developments in the National Health Service under review, especially when they affect Anglesey residents, and seeks to bring about improvements in services where they appear to be unsatisfactory;

• identifies services which are needed but not yet provided;

• works with local groups to help all sections of the community make their views heard by NHS managers;

• researches local views so that they can be taken into account in the planning and running of services. Methods used include public consultations, surveys and visits. The recently launched Healthwatch initiative will also inform this process.

• assists people with any complaints they may have about the NHS. This is usually undertaken by the Council's staff, but members have an important role in following up general issues that arise from enquiries and complaints from the public.

• provides information and advice so that people can make better use of the NHS services available. Basic information is available at this site on general practitioners , dentists , pharmacists and opticians. Contact numbers for patient services in the Gwynedd Hospitals NHS Trust are also given.

Structure of the NationalHealth Service in North Wales

There are 5 Health Authorities inWales. The North Wales Health Authority covers the area of the 6local government unitary authorities in North Wales, includingAnglesey. The NWHA has offices at:

• Preswylfa, Hendy Road, Mold, Flintshire CH7 1PZ. Telephone: . Fax: .
• Eryldon, Campbell Road, Caernarfon, Gwynedd. Telephone: . Fax: .

There are 3 Health Trusts in NorthWales within the area of the NWHA. Most Anglesey residents willdeal with two of these Trusts:

The North West Wales NHS Trust, whichprovides services at Ysbyty Gwynedd (Bangor) or Llandudno Generalas well as services in the community including all CommunityHospitals in Gwynedd and Ynys Mon It also has responsibility forall clinics, nurses working in the community (eg District Nurses,Health Visitors), and all services for mental illness andlearning disability (both of the latter in conjunction with thelocal authority).

Telephone: . Fax:.

The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, based atStanley Hospital, St Asaph. Telephone: . Fax:. This Trust is responsible for all emergencyambulance and patient transport services in Wales. There are 3ambulance stations on Anglesey, based at Amlwch, Holyhead, andLlangefni. The latter two are 24-hour stations. Ambulance controlfor this area is based at Caernarfon, telephone .