PATIENT FORUMS

That this House is aware that contained within the Government's proposed Local Government and Public Involvement Bill introduced on 12th December 2006 is its wish as identified in its clauses 153 to 164 to abolish Patient Forums and replace them with new bodies called LINks; recalls Patient Forums as being established just over three years ago in local primary care trusts in replacement of community health councils; believes such a move to be too hasty, ill-thought-out and if enacted likely to weaken considerably statutory independent local scrutiny and inspection of NHS provision; and calls upon the Government to desist from such moves and to give forums time to deliver their worthwhile remit.