Liberal Democrats have voiced strong opposition to the NHS Modernisation Bill, warning that its proposed changes could create a "bonfire" of patient safety measures. The bill, currently nearing its third reading on September 7, is criticized by the party for potentially reducing accountability and transparency within the National Health Service.
Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Helen Morgan described the bill as a "catastrophic step backwards" and the "greatest backward step in patient safety in a generation." She urged Andy Burnham to revise the Health Bill to ensure that NHS modernisation does not compromise patient safety, accountability, or transparency. Morgan referenced former Health Secretary Wes Streeting's earlier stance that patient feedback mechanisms, like Healthwatch, should be core NHS business rather than outsourced functions.
The party asserts that the current bill would remove the NHS's statutory duty to cooperate with the Care Quality Commission on crucial safety data. Furthermore, it is claimed that automatic protections for whistleblowers would be eliminated. The Liberal Democrats have tabled amendments to reverse these changes and are urging the new Burnham administration to adopt them. They have also vowed to challenge the bill in the House of Lords, where the Labour party does not hold a majority.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson stated that the NHS Modernisation Bill "explicitly preserves safe space provisions and staff will continue to be protected." The spokesperson added that the reforms aim to "give patients a stronger, clearer voice at the heart of health and social care."
Concerns about accountability were also raised by the Local Government Association (LGA) in May, which described the potential disbanding of Healthwatch as a "significant step back." The LGA warned that without an independent, locally-based voice to challenge and represent communities, there is a risk of both duplicated efforts and gaps in accountability. England currently has over 150 local Healthwatch organizations.
Andy Burnham previously served as health secretary in 2009, a period that included the release of the Healthcare Commission's report on the Stafford Hospital scandal. He subsequently launched an independent inquiry into the matter in 2010.