Health Foundation responds to decision to retain Healthwatch

Responding to the government’s decision to retain Healthwatch, Hugh Alderwick, Director of Policy and Research at the Health Foundation, said:

‘The government is right to reverse course on its plans to abolish Healthwatch England and Local Healthwatch organisations. This will avoid yet more unnecessary disruption in the NHS and means patients retain an independent voice to influence how the health system works. The NHS has a mixed record of listening to patients – so it’s right that government is also using the bill to strengthen its own arrangements to hear and act on patients’ views.

‘But the experience of Healthwatch to date has been varied and its impact hampered by budget cuts and a power imbalance with the NHS. So, the decision to retain national and local HealthWatch bodies needs to be paired with sufficient resources and guidance for these organisations to fulfil their crucial roles effectively. Ultimately, changes to culture and management in the NHS will be needed to make policy ambitions on patient voice a reality.’

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Jessica Clinkett
jessica.clinkett@health.org.uk
020 7664 4647