The Liberal Democrats have urged Andy Burnham to stop the "bonfire of patient safety" as part of the government's plans to modernise the NHS.
Healthwatch England (HWE), an independent body which represents the views of patients at their local health and social care providers, is set to be scrapped under the NHS Modernisation Bill.
The Health Service Safety Investigation Bureau (HSSIB), which carries out patient safety investigations, is also being abolished.
The government says its changes will strip back bureaucracy and improve patient safety.
The Lib Dems warned it risks another Stafford Hospital scandal – where years of abuse and neglect led to hundreds of unnecessary patient deaths.
Under the government proposals, Healthwatch's responsibilities will be transferred to integrated care boards (ICBs) and local authorities, meaning they would have to respond to feedback about their own services, rather than being challenged by an independent body.
Separately, HSSIB's functions will be transferred to the government-run Care Quality Commission (CQC), which the Lib Dems argue raises concerns there is no guarantee that staff who raise safety concerns are given anonymity.
Other measures include the abolition of NHS England in a bid to centralise the running of health and social care services under the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Source: BBC News, 10 August 2026
Related reading on the hub:
- The King’s Speech 2026: Six key takeaways for patient safety (Patient Safety Learning)
- Perspectives on the NHS Modernisation Bill
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