Government response to the on the future of Healthwatch

In July, the Dash Review was published. This was a national review of the NHS, patient safety and patient experience, led by Dr Penny Dash. The review looked at how several organisations gather people’s views about health and care, including Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch services.

As part of the Dash Review, the Government said they accepted all of the recommendations made by Dr Dash. These include big changes such as abolishing Healthwatch, including Healthwatch Derbyshire.

In response, local Healthwatch launched a national petition. The petition asked the Government to reconsider the decision and protect an independent voice for the public in health and social care. The petition received more than 10,000 signatures, which meant the Government was required to respond.

The Government has now published its response.

What the Government has said

The Government has confirmed that:

• Healthwatch England and all local Healthwatch will be abolished in their current form
• A new patient experience directorate will be created within the Department of Health and Social Care
• Local responsibilities for patient voice would be split between Integrated Care Boards and local councils
• Integrated Care Boards will cover feedback and patient voice for healthcare services
• Local councils will cover feedback for social care services
• These changes will require new legislation before they can take effect.

Our view at Healthwatch Derbyshire

We recognise that the Government wants to simplify how patient feedback is gathered and used. However, we also know how important an independent voice is for people in Derbyshire.

Every year, thousands of local residents share their health and social care experiences with us because they trust us to:

• act independently
• champion people whose voices are often unheard
• represent communities who experience the biggest barriers

Independence is central to how we work. It allows people to speak to us openly, knowing we are not part of the NHS or other health and care organisations. This independence helps us hold services to account and helps decision-makers hear honest, unfiltered feedback from local people.

The Government’s response confirms that responsibilities for patient voices are moving into other statutory bodies. We will now be seeking clarity on how the Government intends to protect independence, transparency and public trust within any new system.

What this means for Healthwatch Derbyshire right now

At this time, no immediate changes have been announced locally. We continue to operate as normal, carrying out our statutory duties and making sure people’s experiences influence how services are designed and delivered.

We will:

• carry on listening to the people of Derbyshire
• continue to challenge, question and champion on your behalf
• work closely with local partners to understand the the impact of the Government’s plans
• keep local people up-to-date as we learn more

Our priority remains the same: making sure that local people’s voices are heard and acted on at every level of health and social care.

To help keep local people informed, we have created:

A timeline showing what we know so far

This includes key dates from the Government announcement, national meetings, the petition, and expected steps.

‍A set of FAQs

These cover the most common questions about what is happening and what it may mean for Derbyshire.

We encourage anyone who wants to understand the changes in more detail to view both resources.

If you have any questions or would like to share your experiences of health or social care, you can continue to contact us in the usual ways.

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