We're still here - Support the petition to protect independent Healthwatch
On 7 August 2025, the government accepted the recommendations of a review of patient safety (also known as the Doctor Penny Dash report) which proposes transferring Healthwatch England’s responsibilities to the Department of Health and Social Care, while moving local Healthwatch functions into councils and those in charge of how local NHS money is spent (NHS integrated care boards). These changes are part of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan for England and would require new legislation.
If implemented, they would mean the end of 152 independent Healthwatch organisations across England, including Healthwatch North Yorkshire.
What this means for North Yorkshire
For now, we are still here. Healthwatch North Yorkshire continues to:
- Gather the experiences of local people to influence how services are designed and delivered.
- Provide accessible information and advice so residents know where to turn for help.
- Hold health and care organisations to account, ensuring decisions are shaped by the people who use services.
- the Government's NHS 10 Year Health Plan for England, the work of local Healthwatch would be absorbed into local councils and the NHS.
The government’s healthcare plan builds on a recent report about patient safety, which rightly calls for a greater emphasis on the patient voice. The plan promises to give patients more power, but without independence, that promise rings hollow.
If the task of listening to patients is handed over to the very services being reviewed, it risks becoming a case of marking their own homework. Yes, it can be done, but will it truly reflect people’s experiences? Without an independent body like Healthwatch, feedback could be downplayed, uncomfortable truths ignored, and the chance to drive real change lost.
There is another danger too. Many people will only share their honest experiences when they know their voice is safe, respected, and won’t affect their care. If patients are asked to give feedback directly to the organisations that treat them, especially on sensitive issues, many simply won’t speak up. Others may soften what they say, fearing consequences. Either way, the result is the same: services that are less accountable, and communities that are less heard.
That is why independence is not optional. It is essential to protecting trust, accountability, and the patient voice.
Why independence matters
Local Healthwatch, including North Yorkshire, have signed an open letter urging the government to rethink. We know from our work that independence is not just symbolic: it is the reason people feel confident to speak to us, and why organisations take our evidence seriously.
Here in North Yorkshire, that independence has helped us to do so many things, including:
- Highlighting the challenges of rural healthcare access, including farmers, where travel distances and limited public transport create barriers.
- Shining a light on postnatal care experiences, ensuring new parents’ voices are heard.
- Pushing for better accessible information, so people of all backgrounds and abilities can make informed choices about their health.
These are just some of the ways we have turned community concerns into improvements. Without an independent Healthwatch, this voice risks being lost.
Read more about our impact locally
It is also worth remembering why Healthwatch was created in the first place. Healthwatch was established in 2013 through the Health and Social Care Act 2012, following serious NHS failures such as the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust public scandal. The aim then, just as it is now, is to give people a stronger voice in shaping health and social care services.
What you can do to help
We need your support to protect the independent patient voice in North Yorkshire and across England. Here’s how:
- Sign the national petition and help protect the independent public voice in health and social care.
- Tell your Member of Parliament (MP) that you’ve signed and why it matters. The petition site makes this easy with an option to email your MP.
- Spread the word – share the petition with friends, family, work colleagues and on social media.
Support Healthwatch - sign the petition
10,000 signatures will get a formal acknowledgement from Parliament. 100,000 will trigger a debate in Government.
Together, we can make sure that the people of North Yorkshire continue to have a strong, trusted voice in health and social care.
Why your support counts
For now, Healthwatch North Yorkshire remains open, listening to your experiences, good and bad, and helping you find the information and advice you need to make informed decisions for yourself or a loved one.
While we do not manage complaints or provide medical advice, many people turn to us when they do not know where else to go. We help people navigate their options, track down unresolved issues, and highlight examples of outstanding care that deserve to be celebrated.
Adding your signature to the petition shows the strength of public support for keeping a strong and independent voice in health and social care.
Even if you have never used Healthwatch, or perhaps have not heard of us before, our work has likely influenced services you rely on. From making it easier to see a GP, to ensuring hospitals listen to patient feedback, to pushing for clearer information from social care providers, Healthwatch is here to make health and care better for everyone.
That independent voice matters, and with your help we can make sure it is not lost.
