Power to patients in health reforms.

(From Western Morning News)

Byline: MATT CHORLEY London Editor

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley last night called an end to Labour's "old command and control" regime in the NHS, as he vowed to give power to patients.

More than 4,000 managers and bureaucrats face the axe under a drive for efficiency which will demolish whole tiers of NHS management.

Patients and doctors were promised a bigger role in health services. GPs will be handed much of the multimillion-pound budget currently overseen by primary care trusts (PCTs), which will be abolished, along with strategic health authorities.

The government warned that NHS job losses were …