A HEALTH watchdog has been assured its ‘meagre’ budget will not be cut.

Sir Bill Taylor, chairman of Blackburn with Darwen Healthwatch, said: “Our budget is modest, meagre even, at £155,000 a year, which is less than a top doctor’s salary, and less than a quid per head of the population we serve.

“But we are assured that it is a protected amount. The council values citizen engagement, and no more so than for our NHS and adult social care.

“We have only been instituted last summer, and we have been building our board to best represent our community. They have been busy building for the future, keeping current duties ticking over while consulting with commissioners, providers, and third sector groups to ensure our watchdog role is best placed to serve our community.”