UK scraps plan to abolish NHS patient watchdog Healthwatch

UK Health Secretary Yvette Cooper has dropped plans to abolish Healthwatch England, the NHS's independent patient champion, after criticism from Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat parliamentarians. The body and its 150 local branches will be kept and strengthened to collect patient feedback on NHS services. It is the latest in a series of U-turns on the health bill since Andy Burnham became prime minister in July.