The confusion over who is looking out for patients in Kingston is set to continue, after two rival watchdog bodies both met a deadline to hand in their annual reports to the Department for Health.

Both the former steering group K-Link, who were sacked after differences of opinion with the organisation which holds the purse strings Kingston Citizens’ Advice Bureau (KCAB), and KCAB itself are laying claim to the title and funding for the next financial year.

K-Link steering group members held their AGM and signed off their annual report on Monday. They claimed a year ago, decision makers about to decide on which company would win a £102,000 contract to support the patient watchdog, were kept in the dark about a potential conflict of interest.

At least one member of the panel did not know that Pippa Mackie, the chief executive of Kingston Citizens’ Advice Bureau, was the sister of the chief executive of Kingston Council Bruce McDonald.

Both Mrs Mackie and Kingston Council said it was common knowledge and the potential conflict of interest was recorded on the bid document.

Since then both sides have been paralysed by conflict and, although each claim to be doing their best to carry the torch of involving the public in NHS decision making, not everybody was persuaded.

Malcolm Alexander, chairman of the London Patients Forum told K-Link members on Tuesday: “I think it is a disgrace and a scandal.”

The KCAB-backed Kingston Link will hold its own AGM on July 9.

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