Disappointment and concerns from local heath advocacy organisation at government announced plans to shut down Healthwatch England and the network of over 150 local Healthwatch organisations — including Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness — with their roles to be absorbed into local councils and integrated care boards.
Healthwatch was established under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 to understand the needs, experiences and concerns of people who use health and social care services and to speak out on their behalf.
The organisation exist on a national and local level through a network of over 150 local Healthwatch groups, enabling people to have a voice about their health and social care systems.
The Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, claims the change will “make things clearer for patients and give them a stronger voice.”
Speaking about the closure of Healthwatch England at the Local Government Association’s annual conference, Streeting said:
“There are way too many checkers and not enough doers” in the health system.
“I think there are lots of ways in which we have tried to create new bodies to fulfil the failure of other parts of the state to do their job effectively.”
“The revolution we’re leading in patient voice will mean we can get rid of some of the intermediaries, and we don’t need ventriloquists to speak for patients, patients can speak for ourselves if we’re given the opportunity to do it.”
In response, Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness has today said: “We are deeply saddened and disappointed by this decision and we are awaiting the publications of the NHS 10 Year Plan and Penny Dash Review into Patient Safety to help us understand this further.”
“At this very moment the NHS is undergoing yet another major reorganisation, one that will see thousands of roles lost, the government has aiso chosen to remove one of the few truly independent organisations that champions the voices of patients and the public.”
“Since 2013, local Healthwatch staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly to help hundreds of thousands of people to speak up. We have ensured their words were heard by those in positions of power to shape and change these services for the better. Since day one, they have done this with professionalism, empathy and determination, often under pressure and with limited resources; we couldn't be prouder of their dedication.”
“Our work has led to real change. Services have improved, been redesigned and tailored to meet the needs of the people who use them. We've brought lived experience to decision-making tables, shared people's stories with the Care Quality Commission, prompting formal investigations, and published countless reports that have driven action. We are proud of that impact and we're proud that so much of it has come from working in partnership with local people.”
“However, none of it would have been possible without the tireless commitment of our team and volunteers, whose energy and passion have powered everything we do.”
“While we await further detail, our priority remains clear.”
“We are committed to continuing our work, delivering our local Healthwatch across and wider projects to the highest of standards. Making sure the voices of people in Westmoriand and Furness continue to be heard in the places where decisions are made. That includes delivering our Workplan for 2025/26, shaped directly by local people and focused on the issues they’ve told us matter most.”
Local Healthwatch are already funded by and accountable to local authorities with their main statutory functions to:
Obtain the views of people about their needs and experience of local health and social care services. Local Healthwatch make these views known to those involved in the commissioning and scrutiny of care services.
Make reports and make recommendations about how those services could or should be improved.
Promote and support the involvement of people in the monitoring, commissioning and provision of local health and social care services.
Provide information and advice to the public about accessing health and social care services and the options available to them.
Make recommendations to Healthwatch England to advise the CQC to carry out special reviews or investigations into areas of concern.
The organisation has said that until the government's proposals are clearer. it's business as usual for them listening, championing and standing up for people in health and care.
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