Government confirms Healthwatch will be retained
The government has announced that they have decided to retain and strengthen local Healthwatch organisations and Healthwatch England. This decision follows extensive discussions in parliament where there was strong support for the principle of independent user voice, and the work of Healthwatch in particular.
The Board of Healthwatch North Tyneside welcomes the government’s change in approach and would like to thank everyone for their support over the last 18 months of uncertainty. During this period we have continued to engage with local residents about health and care issues that matter to them and have involved more people than ever in co-production activities to review and improve local services.
Chris McCann, Acting Chief Executive of Healthwatch England said:
“Healthwatch England welcomes the Government’s decision not to proceed with the abolition of both Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch, and to retain and reform the Healthwatch model.
“This decision recognises the vital role that an independent service user champion plays in helping NHS and social care services to understand people’s experiences and bringing about improvements to the care people receive. It also recognises the brilliant work done, and professionalism shown, by all the staff and volunteers working across Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch during what has been a difficult time.
“Local Healthwatch organisations have continued to hear from hundreds of thousands of people about their experiences of health and social care services. Across the country, these insights help policymakers, commissioners and providers make better decisions for patients, service users and communities.
“At a time when health and care services face significant pressures and are undergoing substantial reform, it is more important than ever that the voices of patients, families and carers are heard clearly and acted upon. Reducing health inequalities must remain central to this work, ensuring that improvements benefit all communities and that people’s circumstances, needs and experiences are not overlooked in shaping the services they rely on.
“The Government’s decision ensures that people will continue to have an independent organisation they can turn to for advice, advocacy and representation.
“We also recognise that this is a moment not simply to continue what exists today, but to build on the strengths of the Healthwatch network.
“Together with local Healthwatch, local authorities, NHS organisations and wider partners, we will focus on strengthening impact. We are confident that new reforms will help to improve quality and consistency, ensuring people and communities, particularly those facing the greatest barriers to good health and care, have a strong, independent voice in the decisions that affect their health and wellbeing.”