News and reports

A national petition has been created in response to the government’s decision to abolish Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch.

Join us at Recovery College Collective for the Annual Joint Meeting of Healthwatch Gateshead and Healthwatch Newcastle on Tuesday the 16th of September (10am-1pm).

We’ll be closed on Monday 25th August for the bank holiday, and so will some local healthcare services.

We are hosting a Focus Group to find out what people think about WorkWell. Sign up and have your say!

Alan Guest, Committee Member Healthwatch Gateshead – Personal Statement

Read our minutes from the Healthwatch Gateshead Committee Meeting on 13 May 2025.

Healthwatch Gateshead has joined the Open Letter below, delivered to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care from 131 individual local Healthwatch.

We are deeply saddened and disappointed by the government’s recent decision to close Healthwatch England and transfer the responsibilities of local Healthwatch (such as Healthwatch Gateshead) to NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and local authorities.

We will not know the full implications of the government’s proposals until we see the details within the NHS 10 year plan, the Penny Dash Review into Patient Safety and ultimately the legislation has been agreed and published by parliament.

This year gave us the opportunity to build on the foundations created by our engagement team by growing our reach, acting on public feedback and helping people through signposting and information. Download our latest Annual Report to find about more about all the work we've done to support local communities and help your voice to be heard.

Our report "Sister Winifred Laver Centre - Enter and View Report February 2025" is now available.

Our report "Patient Experiences of Hospital Discharge Pathways 0 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital" is now available.

Our 2025 Annual Survey received 278 responses, providing insights on a range of health and/or social care services.