Council leaders have demanded meetings with beleaguered health secretary, Andrew Lansley, amid fears he could replace NHS democratic accountability with mere ‘window dressing' and devalue ‘Cinderella' local services such as mental health.

Local Government Association chair, Baroness Margaret Eaton, this week wrote to Mr Lansley, asking for meetings during the health secretary's two-month ‘listening exercise' over the controversial Health and Social Care Bill.