Sandra Attef, Chief Officer, Coventry CHC

Eleanor Beardsley Development Officer, West Midlands Assoc. of CHCs

Bob Breakwell Business Manager(Regional Office NHSE).

Jenny Knowles, Chief Officer, Kidderminster & District CHC

Anna Lane, Chief Officer, South Birmingham CHC

Ann Lecesse, Worcester & District CHC

Christine Longstaff, North East Warwickshire CHC

Moira Morris, Bromsgrove & Redditch CHC

Pamela Paradise, Shropshire CHC

Jane Steward, Walsall CHC

Sean Ward, Chair and Chief Officer, Wolverhampton CHC

Garry Webb IT Support Officer, West Midlands CHCs

The IT Support Officer was appointed in June 1997 and provides technical support, training, resources and guidance to CHCs on IT matters.

1. During the year a Year Strategy and guidelines were drawn up and adopted by West Midlands CHCs’ Chief Officers.

2. Work is continuing to deal with the problems surrounding year 2000 including a full Year 2000 Audit of West Midlands CHCs by the IT Support Officer.

3. During 1998/1999 several CHCs have had their computer systems either upgraded replaced. All CHCs have adopted their provided "stand alone" Apricot Pentium PCs, which are now connected to the Internet and have e-mail facilities. The West Midlands CHCs Development Officer is also connected to the Internet with a possible connection to NHS.Net intra-net in the near future. Two CHCs who are not as yet connected will be connected as soon as it is possible. All this work has been funded from monies held by the IT Support Group.

4. "Microsoft Office 97 Professional" has been adopted as the standard package for use by West Midlands CHCs following the recommendations of the IT Support Group. All upgraded and new PCs have Office 97 installed on them.

5. Chief Officers and Support Staff of West Midlands CHCs have been and will continue to be provided with basic and advanced training on many IT subjects including Office 97 and the Internet. Specific training has also been done on-site at individual CHCs by the IT Support Officer upon their request.

6. Regular newsletters, information sheets and advice sheets have been sent to CHCs throughout the time the IT Support Officer has been in post.

7. A "Survey of Service" was undertaken on the West Midlands CHCs to see if the IT Support Group serves them to their best advantage. We are pleased to say that the survey showed that the IT Support Group provides more than adequate support, services and guidance for CHCs and have proved to be cost effective and of importance to the Community Health Councils we support.

8. Maintenance contracts for CHCs' computers were agreed with one supplier for one year initially and this is due for renewal. A maintenance contract for 1999/2000 will be agreed following service quality assessments and competitive tendering.