Lib Dems Urge Burnham to Halt 'Bonfire of Patient Safety' in NHS Overhaul in United Kingdom

The Liberal Democrats have urged Andy Burnham to stop the "bonfire of patient safety" under Labour proposals to modernise the NHS in England, warning the changes risk another major hospital scandal. Healthwatch England (HWE), an independent body representing patients' views at local health and social care providers, is set to be scrapped under the government's Health Bill. The Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB), which carries out patient safety investigations, is also being abolished.

The government says its changes will strip back bureaucracy and improve patient safety. But the Lib Dems have warned the changes risk another Stafford Hospital scandal, where years of abuse and neglect led to hundreds of unnecessary patient deaths. A Healthcare Commission report found the scandal involved at least 400 more deaths than expected between 2005 and 2008. Under the bill, introduced in May by the Starmer government, Healthwatch's responsibilities will be transferred to integrated care boards (IC Bs) and local authorities, meaning they would have to respond to feedback about their own services rather than being challenged by an independent body.