This booklet, published by the Centre for Public Scrutiny, was written to help with complex situations resulting from local councils joining up to scrutinise a regional health issue or to respond to consultations from the NHS about major changes to health services. It sets out the challenges committees face and it provides practical guidance about how these joint committees can work most effectively. As well as highlighting effective practice for the committees themselves, the publication carries key messages for NHS partners about the need to share reconfiguration plans and background information at an early stage.The publication will be available from 3 December 2004 at: www.cfps.org.uk/health