Health Secretary Yvette Cooper has abandoned plans to abolish the NHS’s independent patient champion Healthwatch England after an outcry from MPs across party lines.
Healthwatch England was due to be axed as part of the government’s reorganisation of the health service in England.
This policy U-turn means Healthwatch England and its 150 branches will continue to collect and analyse feedback from patients about their experiences of the NHS, and their suggestions for improvement of services.
The ministers said that the decision to retain and strengthen Healthwatch reflects the strong belief from Cooper and Prime Minister Andy Burnham in public and local accountability.
Healthwatch supporters said it helps to identify areas where NHS care is lagging behind in patient needs and hold the service to account.
NHS Alliance Chief Executive Sir Ciarán Devane welcomed the decision and said it was "good to see the government is listening to concerns that we and others have raised about the importance of independent patient advocacy in the NHS."
Welcoming the government's decision on Healthwatch England, National Pharmacy Association Chief Executive Henry Gregg said: "We're pleased the government has reversed its decision to scrap Healthwatch in England.
"Ensuring the patient experience is heard and understood by everyone within our health system is vitally important, particularly as we embark on delivering the government's 10 Year Plan ambitions to bring care closer to people's homes.
"Healthwatch have played a significant role in demonstrating the huge value patients place on access to their local pharmacy as well as the ongoing impact of pharmacy closures and shortages of medicines."
