The 10-Year Health Plan: Our response - and what it means for you
We know many people will have questions, concerns, and frustrations about what this means — for you, your community, and how your voice will be heard in future.
Here’s what’s happening, what we know so far, and what it means.
A bold plan with real risks
The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan for England, shaped by feedback from over 250,000 people in England, including Healthwatch, NHS staff and the public, sets out a long-term vision for improving health and care. Many of the ideas reflect things Healthwatch has championed for years:
- Better access to GPs and NHS dentists
- Greater use of community pharmacies
- A better NHS App
- A simpler complaints system
- Personalised mental health emergency care
- A focus on patient experience, not just performance stats
If done well, these changes could make a real difference to people’s everyday care.
But alongside the ambition, the plan includes major changes to how your feedback is heard — and that’s where we have serious concerns.
What's proposed for Healthwatch:
The plan proposes:
- Scrapping Healthwatch England, the national body that supports local Healthwatch teams and ending all 153 local Healthwatch, including Healthwatch North Yorkshire.
- Absorbing local Healthwatch health work into NHS Integrated Care Boards (those who manage the NHS spend locally) and NHS ''provider engagement''' teams
- Passing Healthwatch's social care functions to local councils (also known as authorities
- Appointing a new National Director of Patient Experience, combining parts of Healthwatch and the Patient Safety Commissioner
- Replacing community feedback with digital input via the NHS App, with systems expected to be in place by 2026
In short: local and national Healthwatch would no longer exist in their current form.
We were not consulted
We found out about these changes late on Friday 27 June 2025 — the night before the national media were due to announce them. There was no prior consultation with Healthwatch, no discussion, and no clarity on the next steps.
This resulted in staff, volunteers and trustees receiving the call suddenly, with many people in England not hearing about it until they saw it online and in the papers.
Naturally, this has been deeply upsetting for our staff, volunteers, and partners — many of whom have worked tirelessly for years to champion patient voice, improve services, and support people across North Yorkshire.
Why it matters to you
At the heart of this is a simple question: How will people be heard if independent Healthwatch no longer exists?
Since 2012, Healthwatch has been the statutory (legal) and independent champion for patients and the public. Our independence means we can speak honestly about what’s working — and what isn’t — without fear or favour.
We’ve helped thousands of people:
- Understand and navigate local services
- Share their experiences to shape change
- Push for better access, quality, and safety
- Improve services through detailed, evidence-based reports
We’re proud of that role. Losing it — or replacing it with digital-only systems or in-house NHS engagement — puts that independence, trust, and impact at risk.
Not everyone can use an app. And not every experience can be captured in a tick-box survey. Many people need a conversation, a trusted face, or a helping hand. That’s what we provide.
What happens next for Healthwatch?
For now, nothing has officially changed.
Healthwatch remains in place — locally and nationally. We continue to:
- Listen to your experiences
- Help you find the right care and advice
- Share your feedback with those in power
- Make sure your voice shapes future services
Any change would require a new Act of Parliament. This could take months or even years — and we expect further detail (including a review from Dr Penny Dash’s review of patient safety) to be published in July 2025.
We’ll keep you updated as soon as we know more.
What's missing from the plan?
The plan includes many positive ambitions — but also some big gaps. People in North Yorkshire regularly tell us they need:
- Better support for disabled people and those with communication needs
- Help with the cost of getting to appointments
- Clearer support while waiting for care
We’ll continue to raise these issues, whether or not the system changes.
Healthwatch raised in Parliament
On Thursday 3 July 2025, the Health Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed to Parliament that Healthwatch will be closed. He thanked staff but said the Government plans to give power “directly to the patient” and increase political accountability.
We agree with strengthening the patient voice. But that must include independent advocacy, not just app ratings or party politics.
Thank you
We’ve been overwhelmed by the kind words and support from members of the public, local councils, NHS partners, and the voluntary sector.
We remain committed to standing up for people in North Yorkshire — especially those who often go unheard.
Whatever happens next, your voice matters — and we’re still here to help it be heard.
Want to explore the plan in more detail?
Watch the full video below for a deeper look at what the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan means for health and care services across England.
Read the 10-Year Health Plan
You can read the Government’s full 10-Year Health Plan, or start with the summary for a quick overview of the main points.
Summary report - a quick overview of the key points:
Fit for the future: 10 Year Health Plan for England
Full report - the complete version of the plan with all the details:
"While the plan sets out some welcome ambitions, closure of Healthwatch risks silencing the independent voice of patients and the public, particularly those who need support and feel excluded. It could break the trust and relationships we've built locally."
