The storm over the controversial decision to end the contract with the Brief Intervention and Counselling Service (BICS) is still raging.

Hounslow Primary Care Trust (PCT) decommissioned the mental health service, based at Chiswick Health Centre, but there have been ongoing concerns at the lack of consultation with patients and doctors.

The PCT admitted that more could have been done' to communicate what was happening to GPs, patients and the public but defended its decision to make the changes.

At a public board meeting of Hounslow PCT last Thursday, (July 6), Mary Crawford, as head of adult commissioning, presented a report on primary care counselling services.

The PCT said a review of the services showed an unequal distribution throughout the borough' and the tendering process and subsequent appointments were designed to rectify this balance.

Contracts were awarded to the TASHA Foundation and Anchor Counselling Practice.

The report states: "The PCT recognises that the transition from the old to the new service has not been smooth and may have caused inconvenience to some patients."

Dr Nicola Burbidge, who sits on the board of the PCT, raised concerns about how many GP surgeries do not currently have access to counselling services.

Practices at Chiswick Health Centre, Brentford Health Centre and 92 Bath Road, Hounslow have been experiencing difficulties, which amounts to a "large population of the borough", according to Dr Burbidge.

She added that the letter sent to GPs in December 2005 asking for their views on whether they wanted to access counselling through a centrally commissioned service or a prac countice-based counsellor was not clear.

She said: "The information was all there but it was difficult to extract and you did have to work out the details for your own practice. If you read it very carefully you could work out by inference that you could not end up with BICS."

At the meeting Cllr Andrew Dakers also made mention to section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001, which requires bodies like the PCT to consult the public when making decisions affecting services provided for them.

Board member Cllr Barbara Reid asked if the board could be sure that the process was carried out correctly, appropriately and legally.

Both John Foster, chief executive, and Christine Hay, PCT chairman, said the process was "above board".

Ms Hay added: "This was something that needed involvement and discussion, not statutory consultation.

"Clearly some things could have been done better. Clearly we need to learn from that."

The BICS case was referred to the North West London Strategic Health Authority.

A spokesman said: "The SHA has had concerns brought to its attention which we have followed up but they have not warranted a more formal investigation.

"We have asked Hounslow PCT to keep us fully informed."

West London Mental Health Trust (WLMH) believe TUPE regulations may apply to BICS, which would mean their staff would have to be transferred to the new providers.

The PCT and WLMH are currently in discussions to resolve this issue.