As the recently elected Chair of the Council I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the previous Chairman, Brian Coulter. Brian joined the Council in 1997 and has been Chairman for the past four years. He was a skilled and committed leader and was respected by everyone who came into contact with him. We look forward to working with him in his new role as Chairman of the new Health and Social Services Regulation and Improvement Authority.

Patricia McMillan

The Eastern Area

The Health and Social Services Councils were established to represent the interests of the public and users of health and social services in Northern Ireland. Four Councils were set up in 1991 on a regional format with Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western offices.

The Eastern Health and Social Services Council’s aim is to make public services more responsive to users’ and carers’ needs and to give the public an opportunity to influence decisions that are made on their behalf.

In fulfilling these obligations the Council undertakes a variety of activities backed by an annual work programme including:

	Providing information and advice on health and social service issues.
	Offering advice, information and help to people who wish to complain about a service.
	Monitoring the quality of local services.
	Working with local groups to help them give their opinions on health and social services.
	Acting for the public to improve the range, type and quality of services.
	Representing the public’s interests in responding to consultation about health and social services
	Regularly visiting health and social service facilities.