BOLTON'S health watchdog, the Community Health Council, has reacted angrily over fresh proposals by the Government to set up a "less independent" complaints body.

The renewed threat of abolition was revealed as the Government announced its NHS Reform Bill.

Changes include axing the CHCs and replacing them with a Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health.

The health watchdog has been fighting for the past 12 months against a threat of abolition.

But former government plans heralding the end of CHCs were shelved by the House of Lords in May.

The reform bill, which also includes giving more power to NHS doctors and nurses, is being criticised for creating a health forum for patients which is not independent.

Angeline Burke, senior policy officer for the Association of Community Health Councils, said: "If the Secretary of State pushes ahead with the bill in its current form patients will lose a respected, effective, independent health watchdog and in its place they will get a system that is more fragmented, more confusing to the public and less independent."

Jenny Crabb, of Bolton's CHC, added: "We agree that there should be changes but feel that the proposals will not cover everything that the CHC currently does.

"In the meantime, we will continue to work to ensure the best services for Bolton people."