Yvette Cooper drops plans to abolish NHS patient champion after outcry
Exclusive: Health secretary to extend role of watchdog, which backers say helps hold service in England to account Yvette Cooper has abandoned plans to abolish the NHS’s independent patient champion after an outcry from MPs across the political spectrum. The health secretary has decided to keep and extend the role of Healthwatch England , which was due to be axed as part of the government’s…
Health Secretary Yvette Cooper has decided to retain and strengthen the role of Healthwatch England, an independent watchdog for NHS patients, after facing an outcry from MPs of various political parties. The watchdog, which facilitates feedback collection and analysis from patients about their experiences with the NHS, was set to be abolished as part of the government's reorganization of the health service in England.
Over 150 branches of Healthwatch England will continue to serve their purpose, as Cooper emphasized the importance of patients being heard and influencing real change in health and care services.
The Labour MP stated that the decision to keep Healthwatch England is a response to the concerns raised by lawmakers across the political spectrum. Critics argued that scrapping the watchdog would lead to a loss of independence and credibility, preventing the NHS from properly addressing issues that patients often face. Thea Stein, a former head of an NHS trust and chief executive of the Nuffield Trust thinktank, highlighted that abolishing Healthwatch would have ignored the problem of the NHS not listening to patients.
Cooper's decision to retain Healthwatch England is part of a series of U-turns made by ministers on key aspects of the health bill since Andy Burnham assumed the role of Prime Minister in July. Other revisions include dropping plans to eliminate the Health Services Safety Investigations Body and end councils' automatic representation on the boards of integrated care boards.
The recent adjustments demonstrate Cooper's commitment to examining the legacy left by her predecessor, Wes Streeting, and implementing changes she believes are necessary for improving public and local accountability.
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