Press release: Our letter to the Secretary of State opposing the decision to abolish independent Healthwatch functions
The letter, which to date has been signed by 131 Healthwatch Chief Officers/Chairs - representing 86% of the national network - warns that the proposed changes would seriously compromise the independence that makes public feedback effective and trusted.
Our letter is in response to the announcement made on 27th June and confirmed by the NHS 10 Year Health plan, to abolish Healthwatch England and 152 local Healthwatch.
The proposals outline that Healthwatch functions will transfer to local authorities and NHS Integrated Care Boards once legislation has passed (which will not be immediate). This is a result of the Review of patient safety across the health and care landscape, led by Dr Penny Dash.
Our letter draws on lessons from the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust scandal, where failures in local scrutiny contributed to serious harm. It argues that dismantling independent advocacy would repeat past mistakes and weaken public accountability.
Geoffrey Bowden, Chair of Healthwatch Brighton and Hove said:
“With trust in public institutions at an all-time low, now is not the time to lose a statutory service which advocates on behalf of the public.
“Rightly, we have heard from large numbers of the public who are concerned by the removal of an independent service which can scrutinise the NHS and social care.”
Local Healthwatch was established by the Health and Care Act 2012, with statutory powers to put people at the heart of health and social care design and delivery. We have long served as independent champions for patients, carers, and communities - particularly those who are vulnerable or face barriers to accessing care. Our statutory independence allows us to challenge poor practice, conduct impartial research, and ensure that people’s voices are heard without fear or favour.
For nearly 13 years, Healthwatch Brighton and Hove has used its independence to engage nearly 38,000 people, write and publish 350 reports containing nearly 1,800 recommendations and help almost 4,000 people through our helpline.
Alan Boyd, CEO of Healthwatch Brighton and Hove said:
“We agree with the 10 Year Plan that more can be done to strengthen how patients’ voices are collected and fed into NHS and social care services to help them improve. But the abolition of the current anonymous route for people to provide feedback will not achieve this. Instead of dismantling independence, we should strengthen it.
“As such, we believe the public should be consulted about these proposals. And we encourage anyone who is equally concerned to contact their local Councillor or MP or send their comments to us and we will pass these on.
“I wish to reassure people that if these changes go ahead, they will not happen immediately, as the law needs to be amended first. This means we are still here, open, and working for you. We remain committed to listening to you, offering information and signposting support, and undertaking our projects in the same dedicated way.”
If these proposals are enacted, it will mark the end of independent statutory services which have existed since 1974 to act on behalf of local people and to give them a strong voice across a complex and often impenetrable health and social care services landscape. Similar services were first created 51 years ago, with the launch of Community Health Councils (CHCs). The plans to abolish this independent route for people to feedback risks taking a step backwards.
The signatories are calling for a meeting with the Secretary of State and are urging the government to strengthen - not dismantle - independent public voice initiatives.
- Please find our full statement regarding the closure alongside further information here.
- You can read our response to the NHS 10-Year Health Plan for England here.
- The Dash report was finally published on 7th July. You can read it here.