Government plans for local Healthwatch - Our Statement
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.
Why This Matters
Healthwatch was created to ensure that people’s voices, especially those often unheard, are central to shaping health and social care services.
Over the past 12 years, our staff and volunteers have empowered thousands to share their experiences, driving real change in health and social care services. Their voices have sparked investigations, shaped redesigns, and improved support across our communities.
We’re proud of the positive impact we’ve made, the strong local partnerships we’ve built, and our collaborative work as part of the North East and North Cumbria Healthwatch Network.
Our Commitment to You
While we await the full details from the Government, we remain committed to our mission and we will:
- Continue to champion the voices of users and carers in
decision-making - Deliver our 2025/26 Workplan, shaped by local priorities
- Work in partnership with local organisations, providers, and fellow Healthwatch teams across the North East and North Cumbria
We’ll keep doing all of this because we believe it’s important for residents to have a strong, independent voice to help improve services for everyone.
As Health and social care services face major changes and job losses, the Government’s decision to shut down Healthwatch as one of the few truly independent voices for patients is deeply troubling. Now more than ever, user voices must be strengthened, not sidelined, to make sure we continue to shape a fairer, safer health and social care system.
Next steps
We understand that this news is concerning for those who rely on our support. In the coming weeks, we will share further information about our future as the government’s plans for future arrangements become clearer. More details will follow soon.
