HEALTH watchdogs fighting for their futures today received a major boost in their battle for survival.

Community Health Councils (CHCs), the eyes and ears of patients for more than 20 years, have been campaigning against proposals which would leave them effectively muzzled.

Battle lines were drawn after the Lancashire Evening Telegraph revealed that highly paid management consultants were proposing that the Government should close down CHC offices and drastically reduce their independence.

The 'Insight' report, which will be published in full later this month, also proposed that CHCs - the only independent bodies which hold the NHS accountable - should move away from monitoring local health services. But in a top-level meeting with CHC leaders, Health Minister John Horam has expressed 'alarm' at most of the Insight recommendations.

He also described the proposed rundown of CHC premises as 'pretty strange.'

The review was commissioned by the NHS Executive to examine the method of 'resource allocation' to CHCs and how their performance can be monitored.

It will spark a lengthy consultation process in January to discuss the future of CHCs and their relationship with health authorities.

Both East Lancashire CHCs have already condemned the recommendations and vowed to fight them. Blackburn and Hyndburn Councils have also joined the bandwagon of protest.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.