COMMUNITY Health Councils and their supporters from across the region will be converging on the Houses of Parliament next week to try to guarantee their future,

The Health and Social Care bill, which includes the abolition of CHCs, is due for its final reading in the House of Commons on Wednesday before it is heard in the House of Lords.

Campaigners have been given renewed hope by the tabling of an amendment to the bill which would see CHCs retained as a co-ordinating body for any new structures.

Donna Covey, director of the association of CHCs, said: "CHCs have acted as the people's watchdog in the NHS for the last 26 years.

"People's confidence in the Health Service has been severely rocked by recent events. Abolishing the one patent-led statutory watchdog with a national voice at such a time would be a disastrous step.

"We are urging the government to think again."

The campaigners will meet in London on Wednesday.