A HEALTH watchdog accused of failing patients say their axed support organisation is to blame.

The Bromley Primary Care Trust Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) forum was criticised for behaving "like a secret society" last week.

But forum chairman Rose Covell says the group of volunteers is doing its best with virtually no support from the Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Sector Organisations.

This council provides the forum with clerical back-up and is funded by the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH) which is sponsored by the Department of Health.

Mrs Covell said: "We have a support organisation in name but not in practice.

"But they're not having the contract renewed in August, thank God.

"None of what they're supposed to do seems to be within their grasp, so we have to do it all ourselves.

She added: "The Government sets these things up and don't make sure they function.

"The council had a huge fund to support us.

"We have managed to accomplish a considerable amount of work unaided."

Denying the claims, the organisation's PPI support director Ian Flack said: "The members of this forum have been antagonistic towards us since the beginning.

"Apart from providing support for meetings, we've also delivered a number of courses for forum members. No-one from Bromley has ever attended any of these.

"My colleagues have worked very hard to deliver support.

"Many of them are distinguished in their own fields having worked on major projects for the World Health Organisation, Medcin Sans Frontieres and the Children's Heart Federation among others.

He added: "My great sorrow is members of the Bromley forum have not seen fit to benefit from all this talent."

CPPIH refused to reveal how much cash the organisation receive to support the forum.

The forum's next public meeting is at 6.30pm on July 14 at Community House, South Street.

For more information, call Sania Elbalkeny on 020 8676 5676.