Vince Cable

Richmond's Community Health Council - the NHS patients watchdog - has been granted a stay of execution and may survive into next year, or even longer if the government cannot set up a satisfactory alternative.

The abolition - which was bitterly fought in parliament - depends on the establishment of a new system for patient involvement.

But the government has compounded the offence it has given by issuing redundancy notices to CHS staff. Staff were told they were to be made redundant by 31 May and then received another message saying that the decision would be postponed.

Vincent Cable said; "the treatment of CHC's is one of the shoddiest pieces of government policy. Many local people use the CHC to seek advice, to file complaints and to ensure that local hospitals and doctors practices are kept up to scratch".