The Forum is staffed by volunteers with a deep interest in the health economy in Worcestershire. Forum members pay surprise visits to local hospitals and had visited Worcestershire Royal Accident and Emergency ward on the evening of January 19th 2007. They represent the voice of the public and the patient. Any recommendations they make are listened to by the hospital trust.
Harriett Baldwin said, "I was very impressed by the dedication of the volunteers who inspect our hospitals from the patients' point of view. I was concerned to learn that Labour has added a section to the Local Government Bill currently going through Parliament which will abolish the forum and replace them with larger forums in order to be more inclusive. Although the Forum is small, the members are expert and dedicated. It seems to be another clear case of Labour reorganising the NHS from the top down."