HEALTH watchdogs under threat from Government plans to reform the NHS claim the latest proposals to reform complaints procedures will only lead to confusion.

When the General Election was called, community health councilsa were given a reprieve because there was not Parliamentary time to ratify all the Government's planned reforms.

Now a discussion document on further reform of the NHS including getting rid of the CHCs and the setting up of local voice initiatives is soon to be published by the Health Department

Chairman of Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Community Health Council Coun Frank Clifford has already seen a copy of the proposals and will tell members meeting tonight they are no better original suggestions.

He said: "The latest plan would lead to a multiplicity of little groups without any cohesion.

"At the CHC we have a one-stop shop where people know exactly who we are and what we do with what is being proposed there is only going to be confusion.

"It is incredibly disappointing that something as major a change in how the public have their voice heard in terms of NHS concerns and the development of services is going to be changed so radically is only a discussion document is should be a statutory document."

He said the CHC was going to be writing to MPs to have the consultation time extended to three months.

Coun Clifford said: "We took a resolution at the last CHC meeting which was unanimous to continue to fight the reforms."