Support the Petition to Protect Independent Healthwatch
Published on
August 11, 2025
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Last month we joined more than 130 local Healthwatch by signing an open letter to the Secretary of State, urging the government to rethink proposals to abolish independent local Healthwatch.
On 7 August 2025, a petition launched calling on the government to review the decision to abolish independent local Healthwatch and protect the independent voice in health and social care.
Why does this matter?
- Our independence lets us listen without bias, speak freely, and hold services accountable
- By moving services in-house to the NHS or local government, we risk losing our voice, and truly hearing what people want to have changed
- The petition shows that independence is crucial, by urging the government to protect and strengthen, not dismantle, the public voice in health and care
What can you do to help?
- Sign the petition now and help us safeguard independent public voice in health and care
- Consider letting your MP know you’ve signed, and why it matters. When you've completed the survey, there's an option to email you MP to make things easy
- You can also help to spread the word about the petition with your networks, on social media, and with family and friends.
Our independence is your independence - it impacts everyone.
Our message to you
Most importantly, we want you to know that we’re still here for you, still listening, just as we always have been. We’re not going anywhere. We continue our work as usual - listening to your feedback, giving advice, and making sure your experiences shape care services.
Read more
- 7 August 2025 - Petition: Review decision to abolish independent local Healthwatch
- 24 July 2025 - Letter to Secretary of State
- 2 June 2025 - A message to our community: Healthwatch Derbyshire's future
- 28 June 2025 - Healthwatch England: Government plans around the future of Healthwatch
- 28 June 2025 - BBC News: Hundreds of NHS agencies to be scrapped
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Letter to Secretary of State
We’ve joined over 130 other Healthwatch services in signing a national letter to protect the independence of the public’s voice in health and care – and to urge the government to rethink proposed changes.