SIR – The Government has just announced its intention to ‘pause’ and listen on NHS reform. Various health and social care organisations were delighted when the bill was first announced, and the Government promised that the principle of ‘no decision about me without me’ would be central to the new plans.

However, as the bill progresses through the Commons, it is becoming clear that what is being said doesn’t match what is written in the bill.

For example, the bill devolves a great deal of decision-making power down to local authorities and GPs, but opportunities for public involvement are little changed.

HealthWatch, as outlined in the bill, does not represent a sufficient upgrade from existing involvement structures – there should be a far greater range of ways to get involved, especially for already-marginalised groups such as those affected by mental illness. How is ‘no decision about me without me’ to become a reality.

This is the most radical change our NHS has ever seen, and we need to be sure that the new system will work for everyone, we need to remind the Government and our local MPs that the NHS belongs to all of us and they promised not to leave patients out.

Emmerson Walgrove, Parkfield Road, Manningham, Bradford