Controversial health reforms are in chaos after a Conservative-led committee demanded the Government think again.

MPs including Valerie Vaz (Lab Walsall South) condemned plans to give GPs control of £80 billion spent by the NHS each year.

In a hard-hitting report, they called instead for elected councillors and other health professionals including nurses and consultants to oversee the way the NHS commissions healthcare.

The recommendations came from the Commons Health Committee, which includes Ms Vaz and is chaired by Conservative MP Stephen Dorrell, a former Secretary of State for Health.

It comes as David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg prepare to launch a “listening exercise” in a bid to reassure critics of the shake-up, amid rumours the changes could be watered down.

Under the Government’s plans, the health trusts that currently commission and pay for healthcare from GPs and hospitals are to be scrapped.

Instead, GPs will be asked to form consortia to commission services.

The Department for Health has already approved plans for 30 practices in south Birmingham to create a body called South Birmingham Integrated Clinical Commissioning Consortium, while 55 GP practices in Dudley have got together to create Dudley GP Commissioning Consortium.