Alex Stewart, chief executive of Healthwatch Norfolk, which was set up to champion the views of patients, said dismantling the independent organisation could threaten public safety and scrutiny of the county's health systems.

A year ago, the then-health secretary Wes Streeting announced all Healthwatch organisations, including Norfolk's, would be axed as part of the government's 10-year plan for the NHS.

Wes Streeting (Image: Peter Byrne / Press Association)

It would see all local branches of the organisation scrapped and patient feedback........

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