Proposed closure of Healthwatch - our statement
What has the government announced?
On Friday 27th June 2025, the Government announced that it wants to change the law to:
1. Transfer the work of Healthwatch England to the Department of Health and Social Care.
2. Transfer the work of local Healthwatch services to the NHS (Integrated Care Boards) and local authorities.
What does this mean?
This means that Healthwatch would no longer exist to be able to independently act on behalf of patients. Our functions, which include hearing from all residents of the city, to provide them with advice and guidance and to speak up on their behalf, would transfer to NHS Sussex and Brighton and Hove City Council. Our independent scrutiny of services would also come to an end.
This news came as a huge shock and is a very sad day for our staff, volunteers, residents and everyone associated with Healthwatch nationally, and especially in Brighton and Hove.
The proposal to close Healthwatch has nothing to do with our performance either nationally or locally; rather, it is a policy change by the government. Along with Healthwatch, a number of organisations are to close or transfer. Here is a link to a BBC article with some further details.
The Dash report was finally published on 7th July. You can read it here.
We are reviewing the proposals and determining our next steps.
We do know that legislative changes will be required to effect the proposed changes.
What does this mean right now?
While these changes will happen over time, the law has not yet been changed.
This means we are still here, open, and working for you.
We remain committed to gathering patient and public voice, offering information and signposting support, and undertaking our projects in the same dedicated way.
Please be assured we will update you as soon as we know more. In the meantime, we remain committed to business as usual, and for now, our existing activities, projects and meetings will go ahead as planned.
If you have any immediate concerns, questions or simply wish to show your support, then please do contact us at office@hwbh.co.uk.
Thank you for your continued support.