Protecting local independent voice in healthcare and social care

Local Healthwatch organisations were created so people have a trusted way to share what they experience in health and social care. They were designed to remain separate from the bodies delivering services, so they can listen freely and bring real stories into decision-making places. The current proposals from Government threaten to remove that independence.

That matters because when services are under pressure and access is uneven, the voice of individuals must not get lost. People tell us they are worried about what these changes will mean for their right to speak up. Our role is to make sure changes do not reduce the options for people to ask questions, find support or challenge decisions that affect their lives. We remain focused on the safety, dignity and voice of everyone in our area

Why local independent voice matters

Healthwatch North Yorkshire was established in response to past failures when residents were not heard for long periods of time. Independent oversight was introduced to make sure the public voice did not disappear within large systems. This independence gives people confidence that what they say will be published fairly, even when the findings are uncomfortable. It helps highlight problems early and show where improvement is needed.

Independence also allows us to report on positive experiences, recognise staff who make a difference under pressure and speak honestly with services while keeping the focus on people.

What is changing

Government proposals would remove the current structure of local independent Healthwatch organisations and bring more activity under national control. A single national system may rely more on digital channels and fewer teams based directly in communities. The aim is consistency, but a one-size-fits-all approach may struggle to reflect the pressures faced in rural and coastal areas, by older residents, unpaid carers, people with disabilities and those with limited internet access.

If fewer local teams visit services in person, we risk missing important issues. Using mainly online feedback could make it harder to identify problems early. Some people may be unable or unwilling to give feedback digitally and may need in-person support.

Why this matters for you

For many residents in North Yorkshire, local contact is essential. Travel distances are long, bus services are limited and rural challenges are real. Some feel unable to raise concerns through online forms and want support from someone who understands the area. If local independence is removed, it may become harder to get clear information about what to do when something goes wrong. There is a real risk that complaints will become part of a national database without the local context needed to drive change. Local views and experiences of people helps decision-makers understand the real effect of long waits, confusing referrals or limited community support.

Our work continues

We want to reassure residents that Healthwatch North Yorkshire remains fully operational. You can continue to contact us to share your experience, ask for information, or seek support if you need help raising a concern. There have been no changes to our duties at this time, and our work continues without interruption. We are still visiting services, speaking with residents in their communities, and gathering real lived experience to inform improvement.

We are focusing on topics raised repeatedly in recent months, including access to non urgent patient transport, support for women experiencing midlife health challenges, and the experience of people with disability when using online appointment systems. These are important issues that affect daily life, waiting times, and people’s confidence in care.

We are sharing the evidence we collect with those responsible for shaping services. We continue to explain why independent voice is essential to safe oversight and improvement. We have made clear that any new model must protect routes for people to raise concerns without fear.

How you can help

You can support this work by sharing your recent experience of health and social care. Tell us what has worked well, what has been difficult, and what you would like to see change. Your feedback strengthens our evidence and helps show why community based presence matters.

If you are concerned about proposals that may reduce accountability or limit local presence, you can contact your elected representatives and explain why independent voice is important to you and your community.

Our message to Government

We support plans that improve access, strengthen safety, and organise care more clearly. National investment can bring real benefits to patients and families. However, improvement must not come at the cost of independent oversight or trusted public voice. Any new model must protect routes for people to raise concerns, ask questions, and speak honestly without fear.

Local knowledge helps identify hidden gaps, highlight subtle barriers, and show what happens when systems do not fit everyday life. Removing local independence risks losing voices that are already hard to hear.

We will continue to share what residents tell us and speak up on their behalf while discussions continue. We remain committed to publishing findings based on real lived experience and ensuring that those findings shape decisions. The principle of independent public voice in health and social care is too important to lose.

If you would like to share your experience or ask a question, please contact our team. Your voice remains central to our work.