Good news – Healthwatch will no longer be abolished

It has been announced that Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch organisations will no longer be abolished. This reverses previous decisions made in June 2025, when the then government announced plans to close Healthwatch England and the 153 local Healthwatch organisations. The plan was to transfer the functions of Healthwatch England to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and local Healthwatch organisations to local NHS integrated care boards (ICBs) on health care and local authorities for adult social care.

Across England, the local Healthwatch makes a difference by ensuring local people can access the care they need and by listening to the concerns of people using the NHS services. Research at The King’s Fund highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong, independent voice that could speak on behalf of patients and the public.

In changing the plans for Healthwatch to continue, the government suggests that more can be done to ensure Healthwatch plays a more influential role in bringing together people’s experiences and ensuring those voices are heard. Healthwatch’s important role in the community will also be connected to the new Director of Patient Experience in the DHCS, to bring health and social care learning together and strengthen accountability for how organisations respond to feedback.