The Liberal Democrats have accused the Labour government of presiding over a "bonfire of patient safety" by dismantling key NHS safeguards, including protections for whistleblowers. The party warns that scrapping these measures could leave staff less able to raise concerns about poor care and patients more exposed to risk, reigniting long-standing debates about how well the NHS learns from past safety failures.

The article, as supplied, does not set out the specific safeguards or whistleblower protections said to be under threat, nor does it detail Labour's response to the claims. It is presented as a warning from the Liberal Democrats rather than a confirmed government announcement, and further reporting would be needed to establish exactly which NHS rules or protections are affected.