The Government has confirmed that Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch organisations will be retained, with reforms to strengthen the patient and public voice in health and social care.
The changes are intended to ensure lessons from patient feedback are shared across the system, rather than staying within individual organisations. Healthwatch will also have a greater role in identifying recurring concerns and highlighting where action is needed on quality, safety and patient experience.
Health and Social Care Secretary Yvette Cooper said patients need a voice in the NHS, adding that she had promised to review the reforms in this area.
The Local Government Association welcomed the announcement. Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor MBE, chair of its Health and Wellbeing Committee, said the Government had listened to its calls to retain local Healthwatch. Without an independent, locally rooted voice, she warned, services risked ‘marking their own homework’.
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