Healthwatch welcomes Government confirmation that the independent voice of the Public will be saved 

This week the Department of Health & Social Care informed Healthwatch that the Health Bill clauses relating to the abolition of local Healthwatch and Healthwatch England are to be withdrawn. 

This decision is the right one and means that it is business as usual for the four Healthwatch services managed by Public Voice: Haringey, Barnet, Hounslow and Croydon . The teams and volunteers will continue to support local health and care services into the future. We make a positive impact through gathering patient views and evidence, helping residents navigate and access health and social care, and working together with providers and commissioners to improve local services. 

Healthwatch was established under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 specifically to understand the needs, experiences, and concerns of people who use health and social care services and to speak out on their behalf. In that time Local Healthwatch have helped millions of people raise concerns, access vital advice, and influence real change in the services they rely on.  

In June last year the previous Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, announced that the government proposed to abolish Healthwatch England, which would also have led to the closure of over 100 local Healthwatch network across England.  Over the last year, our four Healthwatch have been working together with the local Healthwatch network to challenge this.  

 The public need to be able to speak freely and be heard without fear or conflict of interest.  Without a strong independent local presence and delivery through trusted community organisations the public’s voice risked becoming an internal process rather than genuinely accountability.