CONSUMER COUNCIL

Health Services Planning (HSP) is reviewing how health services should be developed and delivered over the next ten years and beyond. Over the past six months we have been working with consumers and consumer support groups, providers and funders through a series of workshops to discuss experiences, opportunities and solutions.

At the workshops the following questions were raised:

How could consumer participation work?
How can your ideas be put into action – what needs to happen by whom?
How can we (the consumer group) interact with the CDHB on an ongoing basis?

Through this process, work has been undertaken to form a HSP Consumer Council. Workshop participants agreed to the concept and key functions of a consumer council with nine groups and 15 representatives identified.

The Canterbury DHB endorsed the HSP Consumer Council proposed terms of reference at it’s meeting on 10 August 2007

We have established a register of consumers and consumer organisations that you may find useful. Your feedback on the register is welcomed, please contact Health Services planning on email: HSP@cdhb.govt.nz

The HSP Consumer Council is in the final stages of being established and nominations have closed. Approved nominees will be notified and invited to participate prior to January 2008. This is a significant and exciting initiative and we look forward to supporting the Consumer Council participation in the planning and development of health services.

Please contact Health Services Planning if you have any questions by email at

HSP@cdhb.govt.nz or by phone: 337 8647