Responding to the government’s announcement on the changes to the Health Bill, RCN Director of Policy Amber Jabbal, said: 

 

“The Health Secretary has rightfully listened to the concerns of nursing staff and chosen to scrap the abolition of Healthwatch England and Local Healthwatch and instead focus on ensuring it plays a more influential role. This would’ve been a significant loss to the patient voice within the NHS and to patients’ ability to hold health and care services to account.

 

“This follows a welcome retreat from axing the Health Services Safety Investigations Body last week, a vital independent voice that ensures patient safety is improved within the NHS through its independent investigations. These changes to the Health Bill are pivotal to ensuring patient voices have power within the NHS, and that safety investigations are truly independent."