Richmond Link’s chairwoman Bonnie Green challenged the health board that will take over the group at its last meeting.

Mrs Green laid out the challenges for Healthwatch Richmond, which is the replacement health service from Richmond’s new Clinical Commissioning Group (RCCG), which will be overseen by Richmond Council.

She highlighted the need for transparency and advocated being more proactive when poor care is spotted, which she related to the controversial revelations that led to the Francis Report into Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.

The Francis Report will consider why serious problems at the trust were not identified and acted on sooner, and will identify important lessons to be learned for the future of patient care.

Mrs Green said: “We all have to ensure that the poor care, the target culture, the absence of transparency, and the ears deaf to the patient voice that was identified in the Francis Report into Mid Staffs does not happen again and particularly for us, does not happen for Richmond people.”

Richmond Link also called on people to be more proactive when they experience or see poor care or practice provided in both health and social care services.

She said: “It’s very easy if we are aware of poor care, or indeed good care, to do nothing about it.

“If it is about healthcare, it is really important to pass on this experience to the hospital concerned or to RCCG through its Pals service, or to the new Healthwatch Richmond.

“It’s only by identifying both good and poor care that can we get the best care for everybody - we shouldn’t tolerate second rate care.”

Twickenham MP Vince Cable said: “The protection of NHS patients through an effective watchdog is more important than ever. I hope that the new Healthwatch will fulfil the hopes that many of us have of an effective watchdog.”

Richmond Park MP Zac Goldsmith said: “Changing demographics mean that an integrated approach to local health and social care services is increasingly important, and I am hugely supportive of Richmond Link’s efforts to ensure that the community’s aspirations are central to this process.”