A health watchdog has given a cautious welcome to a decision that could ensure its future survival.

Airedale Community Health Council (CHC) members are relieved that the House of Lords defeated Government plans to abolish community health councils nationwide.

However, they are still wary that the Government could overturn the defeat when it goes back to the House of Commons for debate.

The Government wants to replace CHCs -- which provide a voice for aggrieved patients -- with a new hospital-based mediation service and patient council.

But peers defeated the Government's plans by 161-121 and called for a reform of the current system rather than wholesale changes.

Airedale CHC chief officer John Godward said: "We welcome this decision but we are aware that it has to go to the House of Commons to be debated, with any decision then coming back to the House of Lords."

"No one knows what the timetable for this is or whether or not it will be accomplished before a general election. We don't know what the implications are but we do know the Lords want to retain CHCs, strengthen them, rename them patient councils and let them run patient forums."

Mr Godward added: "Members of all parties joined together to defeat the bill and we have got to thank Keighley MP Ann Cryer because she has always been a supporter of Airedale CHC."

Mrs Cryer is among a group of backbench Labour MPs who have defied the Government's plans to change the current system.

As part of the Government's health and social care bill, Health Minister Alan Milburn has proposed scrapping the independent health councils in favour of hospital-based patient advocacy liaison service (PALS) and patient councils.

Conservative and Liberal Democrat peers in the House of Lords say that the Government's plans lack "teeth" and will compromise independence.

CHC members also fear that if a new hospital based service is set up, patients will be more reticent to complain about health services.

Health Minister Alan Milburn said: "I don't think the Lords amendment and the retention of CHCs will be in the best interests of patients.

"What we propose instead is the introduction of patient forums in every trust.

"We will look very carefully at what the Lords have said, but the bill hasn't finished its passage through Parliament yet."

Mrs Cryer said: "I'm pleased about the result in the Lords. I think there have been some problems with CHCs, but overall they have been effective and I don't believe we should change the whole system."