The secretary of state responds to the Healthwatch petition
In September 2025, over 130 local Healthwatch organisations united to launch a national petition urging the government to reconsider its decision to abolish Healthwatch. The petition highlighted the importance of maintaining an independent patient voice in health and social care, warning that transferring Healthwatch’s functions to local authorities and NHS bodies would weaken accountability and transparency.
The petition received over 10,000 signatures, prompting a response from Government
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has confirmed that the government will press ahead with its NHS reform plans, part of the wider Ten-Year NHS Plan. These reforms plan to abolish Healthwatch England and all local Healthwatch bodies, with their responsibilities absorbed into NHS and local authority structures.
The Department of Health and Social Care argues that this change will make patient engagement more efficient, reduce duplication, and ensure feedback is fed directly into service planning. However, Healthwatch teams feel strongly that in removing independence could weaken the patient voice and reduce accountability.
Helping to improve services today and shape them for tomorrow
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We are there to provide you with information and advice and use your input to help providers across the area look at where their services are doing well and where they could do better.
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How we've made a difference (2024 - 25)
