Government response on the future of Healthwatch
In July 2025, the Dash Review was published. This was a national review of the NHS, patient safety and patient experience, led by Dr Penny Dash. The review looked at how several organisations gather people’s views about health and care, including Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch services.
As part of the Dash Review, the Government said they accepted all of the recommendations made by Dr Dash. These include big changes such as abolishing Healthwatch, including Healthwatch North Yorkshire.
In response, local Healthwatch launched a national petition. The petition asked the Government to reconsider the decision and protect an independent voice for the public in health and social care. The petition received more than 10,000 signatures, which meant the Government was required to respond.
The Government has now published its response.
What the Government has said
The Government has confirmed that:
- Healthwatch England and all local Healthwatch will be abolished in their current form
- A new patient experience directorate will be created within the Department of Health and Social Care. This is a new team whose job is to listen to what people say about health and care services and use that information to help shape national decisions.
- Local responsibilities for patient voice would be split between those in charge of the local NHS budget and who plan services. For us, this is the NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board. North Yorkshire Council will also be the other part of this.
- Integrated care boards will cover feedback and patient voice for healthcare services.
- Local councils will cover feedback for social care services.
- These changes will require new legislation before they can take effect.
There's still time to support Healthwatch - Sign the petition
Our view at Healthwatch North Yorkshire
We recognise that the Government wants to simplify how patient feedback is gathered and used. However, we also know how important an independent voice is for people across our county.
Every year, thousands of local residents share their health and social care experiences with us because they trust us to:
- act independently
- champion people whose voices are often unheard
- represent communities who experience the biggest barriers
Independence is central to how we work. It allows people to speak to us openly, knowing we are not part of the NHS or other health and care organisations. This independence helps us hold services to account and helps decision-makers hear honest, unfiltered feedback from local people.
The Government’s response confirms that responsibilities for patient voices are moving into other statutory bodies. We will now be seeking clarity on how the Government intends to protect independence, transparency and public trust within any new system.
What this means for Healthwatch and you
At this time, no immediate changes have been announced locally. We continue to operate as normal, carrying out our statutory duties and making sure people’s experiences influence how services are designed and delivered.
We will:
- carry on listening to the people of North Yorkshire
- continue to challenge, question and champion on your behalf
- work closely with the people in charge of care and those who provide it to understand the the impact of the Government’s plans
- keep local people up-to-date as we learn more
- stay committed to showing our impact, especially how your feedback and experiences, along with our role as an independent champion, have helped to improve health and social care.
Our priority remains the same: making sure that local people’s voices are heard and acted on at every level of health and social care.
If you have any questions or would like to share your experiences of health or social care, you can continue to contact us in the usual ways.
A timeline showing what we know so far
This includes key dates from the Government announcement, national meetings, the petition, and expected steps
Timeline - What we know so far
A set of frequently asked questions
These cover the most common questions about what is happening and what it may mean for North Yorkshire.
Healthwatch - Frequently asked questions
