Working with ICBs: How Healthwatch engage, influence and adapt
Most local Healthwatch provide insight and representation to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), often working collaboratively across local areas. However, the role and structure of ICBs are changing, including mergers, boundary adjustments, and shifts in responsibilities. These changes create both challenges and opportunities for local Healthwatch in how they gather insight, influence decision-making, and work together across evolving footprints.
Healthwatch England commissioned The Advocacy People, a provider of seven local Healthwatch services, to examine how different local Healthwatch engage with ICBs. Their work also considers
- What helps or limits the influence of local Healthwatch?
- How are local Healthwatch adapting to larger footprints, collaboration and changing structures?
- What does this tell us about the future of independent patient voice?
The report highlights how local Healthwatch are
- adapting in varied, practical ways rather than following a single model
- carrying out more joint working across larger areas, rebuilding relationships, and trying to influence future patient voice arrangements
- leaning more on informal feedback routes, and becoming more consciously focused on transition. These adjustments are taking place amid ongoing uncertainty, with limited clarity on the long-term system landscape.
A strong message came from Healthwatch participating in the study that independent patient voice needs to remain visible, credible and connected to decision-making.
Downloads
Report examining how local Healthwatch engage with ICBs.