An independent review into the quality of care at Downham Market Health Centre before April 1, 2011, will now include a patient representative.

The announcement comes after South West Norfolk MP Elizabeth Truss lobbied Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, over her concerns at the lack of patient representation on the panel.

Ms Truss told the EDP: 'I have spoken directly with Andrew Lansley the Secretary of State for Health and expressed my concerns about the lack of patient representation on the panel for the independent review.

'The Health Secretary agreed to raise this with the Chief Executive of the Strategic Health Authority.

'He also said that Department of Health would ensure these concerns are noted and acted upon. I believe this is a very positive development and will provide reassurance to patients and relatives that their views and wishes are being listened to.'

The enquiry follows concerns over the standard of patient care at the Paradise Road centre.

Complainants include a widower, whose wife died in hospital after a locum GP said he was too busy to see her.

Health chiefs published a blueprint for how the independent enquiry would be conducted two weeks ago.

NHS East of England said it had commissioned a review of Downham Market Health Centre between March 2010 and March 2011.

It said the review would be 'organised around the three domains of quality: safety, clinical effectiveness and patient experience'.