The Healthier Communities
Select Committee is responsible for monitoring, reviewing and
making recommendations about a wide range of local health
matters.
It gives local councillors the
opportunity to question and influence the work of the health bodies
in Lewisham, including hospitals, GPs and the council.
Local NHS bodies have a legal
duty to consult the committee about any proposed large change or
development of services in the borough, and the committee has the
power to ask the Council to refer its views to the Secretary of
State.
The committee gives councillors
the opportunity to hear the views of local people, interest groups,
and other relevant organisations, such as
Healthwatch.
The committee chooses the
health-related issues it wants to focus on each year and holds
eight meetings, which are open to the public. The agenda and papers for each meeting are
published online in advance.