Local people get more say on hospitals thanks to Lib Dems

Lib Dem MPs have secured a number of important concessions in the Care Bill today to give people more say on hospital changes. A raft of checks and balances will be introduced to make sure that changes to local hospital services are not made without local people being able to have their say. These include:

• Making sure that this process is only used in the most extreme cases, after all other options are tried
• Councils and the patients forum Healthwatch must be consulted as the representatives of local people
• The plans must have agreement of all relevant local health commissioners

Liberal Democrat Paul Burstow MP will be chairing a committee of MPs and Lords to ensure these changes are secured.