FOLLOWING the Government's recent defeat in the House of Lords on Community Health Council (CHC) abolition, representatives from the Redditch branch have voiced their approval.

Bromsgrove and Redditch CHC Chief Officer Moira Morris said: "I think all the members of Bromsgrove and Redditch CHC feel that the House of Lords is right.

"Whatever is set up needs to be publicly accountable and independent of the service it is watching over.

"In light of what the Lords has done with this amendment, it shows there is a real need for the service CHCs provide."

Donna Covey, director of the Association of CHCs said: "We hope the Government will feel able to recommend the Bill as amended to the House of Commons."