Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Helen Morgan said the moves in the Health Bill were a ‘catastrophic misjudgement' and called on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to row back on the plans.

Morgan said: ‘This is a catastrophic step backwards. Many of the protections and organisations being abolished or neutered came in following the scandals that erupted during Andy Burnham's tenure as health secretary. He promised lasting change and to listen, but is now overseeing the greatest backward step in patient safety in a generation.'

The Health Bill will see Healthwatch's responsibilities transferred to ICBs and local authorities, while HSSIB's functions will be transferred to the Government-run CQC.

The CQC warned in May its merger with the HSSIB risked a conflict of interest by threatening the ‘safe space' between its proposed investigatory and regulatory arms.

Burnham wrote to then health secretary Wes Streeting in November 2025 opposing Healthwatch abolition warning it was a serious mistake at a time when public trust, lived experience and community involvement were more vital than ever.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘The NHS Modernisation Bill explicitly preserves safe space provisions and staff will continue to be protected.

‘The reforms we are introducing will give patients a stronger, clearer voice at the heart of health and social care.

‘By bringing the voice of patients closer to the people making decisions, we will ensure a more direct impact on services.'

The DHSC said abolition local Healthwatch organisations would simplify the patient safety landscape and make it more not less effective.

It added whistleblowing protections in the NHS had been enhanced in April in in addition to the Freedom to Speak Up programme and protected disclosures under the Public Interest Disclosure Act.

The DHSC said it was also putting in place service improvements to ensure strong collaboration between national bodies on patient safety under the leadership of the national quality board.