Yvette Cooper drops plans to abolish NHS patient champion Healthwatch
Briefing by News4U · First published
Britain’s health secretary says Healthwatch England will be kept and strengthened after cross-party protests against scrapping the NHS patient watchdog.
Yvette Cooper has abandoned plans to abolish Healthwatch England, the NHS’s independent patient champion, after an outcry from MPs across the political spectrum, the Guardian reported. The health secretary will keep and extend the watchdog’s role, reversing a plan to axe it during England’s health-service reorganisation. [1]
Healthwatch England and its 150 branches will continue collecting and analysing patient feedback on NHS care. Cooper said: “Patients need a voice in our NHS.” She added that the government will retain Healthwatch England and Local Healthwatch while strengthening them so patient voices can influence change across health and care services. [1]
Lords minister Gillian Merron is due to confirm the change when peers debate the health bill. The rethink follows criticism that transferring Healthwatch’s functions into NHS regional integrated care boards and local councils would weaken independent oversight of patient experience. [1]
Sources
- Yvette Cooper drops plans to abolish NHS patient champion after outcry
The Guardian · · Full text