Tony Blair's bid to scrap NHS watchdogs was condemned yesterday in his own North-East region as a "cynical attempt" to stifle bad publicity ahead of the General Election.

Jack Tobin, chairman of the South Durham and Weardale Community Health Council (CHC), launched the assault as Health Secretary Alan Milburn vowed to press ahead with ditching the CHCs.

They would be replaced with arrangements involving Patient Advocacy and Liaison Services (Pals) and more scrutiny from local councillors, Mr Milburn said.

But in the Commons, Tory health spokesman Liam Fox aimed to embarrass Mr Milburn by quoting a scathing condemnation from the North-East.

Dr Fox produced a letter from Mr Tobin, written to him earlier this week.

The South Durham and Weardale CHC boss claimed that there had been no consultation over the abolition proposal, set out in the NHS national plan earlier this year.

He raised fears that the Government had unveiled its intention to abolish CHCs "as a cynical attempt to silence any negative publicity during the winter and in the lead-up to the General Election, as they know they are most vulnerable in regard to the NHS.

"What better way to deflect attention away from any shortcomings than by silencing the only independent monitor that the public has for the NHS?"

Mr Tobin admitted that the status quo needed to change, but urged the Tories to throw their weight behind the need for "a national, independent watchdog for the NHS".

Aides for Mr Milburn last night insisted the new system proposed by the Health Secretary would give councillors from Darlington, County Durham and across the North-East a scrutiny role in the health service.

Mr Milburn has told MPs that CHCs were "insufficiently independent", were partly appointed by the Department of Health and lacked the democratic legitimacy needed for today's NHS.