If the situation is allowed to continue, more and more local Healthwatch will no longer be able to deliver the service that the public and stakeholders expect of us. This is why, when we launched our new strategy in May 2023, we commissioned a project to examine potential solutions we could present to the Government.
The work involved extensive consultation with local Healthwatch, national and local stakeholders and a review undertaken by an independent agency.
It found a strong consensus that the current situation needs to be addressed. This is not only to offset ever-diminishing budgets but also to tackle the duplication of work and variations in service delivery caused by over 150 different approaches to commissioning, along with the challenges local Healthwatch face in working effectively within integrated care systems.
Our project explored several potential solutions, all with benefits and risks. We came to believe the solution that best addresses the issues we identified is one in which Healthwatch England takes on responsibility for commissioning local Healthwatch.
However, please be assured that any significant changes like this lie in the hands of the Government and would likely take several years to implement.
Whatever solution the Government settles on, we will work hand-in-hand with you to minimise any negative impacts and maximise the potential benefits.
Please see our business case document below for more information about the proposals. Sincere thanks to all Healthwatch colleagues who helped to shape them.