131 Local Healthwatch Services Unite to Defend the Public Voice
In an open letter addressed to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, 131 Healthwatch Chief Officers and Chairs—representing 86% of the national network—warn that such a move would seriously compromise the independence and effectiveness of local Healthwatch services.
Safeguarding the Public’s Voice
For over a decade, Healthwatch has served as the independent champion for people using health and care services. The strength of Healthwatch lies in its statutory independence, which allows it to speak truth to power, challenge poor practice, and amplify the voices of those often left unheard—especially people who are vulnerable or face barriers to care.
The open letter states:
"Bringing public voice functions in-house risks creating a system where feedback is filtered, inconvenient truths are softened, and accountability is diluted. It sends the wrong message at a time when public trust in institutions must be rebuilt, not eroded.”
Learning from the Past
The signatories cite the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust scandal as a stark reminder of what can happen when independent scrutiny is weakened. The Francis Inquiry following that tragedy highlighted the importance of independent advocacy and public voice. Local democratic scrutiny mechanisms alone, the letter argues, are not equipped to replace the expertise and impartiality of local Healthwatch services.
“The Francis Inquiry made clear that independent scrutiny and public advocacy are essential,” the letter states. “We must not repeat the mistakes of the past.”
A Trusted and Essential Resource
People often choose to speak to Healthwatch over NHS providers due to trust, fear of repercussions, or lack of access elsewhere. Healthwatch provides more than just feedback collection; it offers trusted advice, carries out Enter and View visits, conducts independent research, and ensures that people’s concerns lead to real change in local services.
“People often tell us we are the first service to truly listen and the only one that follows up to ensure they receive the support needed.”
Herefordshire’s Local Response
Healthwatch Herefordshire has echoed these national concerns in direct communication with local MPs Ellie Chowns and Jesse Norman. The Chief Officer of Healthwatch Herefordshire, Christine Price, highlighted the risks posed by the proposed changes in the NHS 10-Year Plan.
“Healthwatch work spans beyond feedback about services,” she stated. “It provides important information and advice functions to enable people to navigate complicated systems and understand their rights. It harnesses the power of volunteers and understands the gaps and needs of the community and what matters to them, beyond service feedback.”
Herefordshire’s Chief Officer called on both MPs to support efforts to challenge these plans and preserve the independence of Healthwatch services, underlining that the public voice must remain free from institutional influence if it is to be trusted and effective.
Why This Matters
At a time when trust in health and care institutions is more important than ever, the ability for people to speak up—and to be heard—without fear or interference must be protected. Healthwatch remains committed to working collaboratively with local systems, but this can only be done effectively if our independence is safeguarded.
The letter will be submitted to Secretary of State Wes Streeting and shared with a national newspaper this weekend. If you would like to read the letter in full click the download below.
Get Involved
If you care about protecting the independence of patient and public voice in health and care, we encourage you to join us. A petition will be launched soon to give members of the public a way to show their support.
Watch this space for updates on how to sign and share the petition.
