18/08/2025
Healthwatch Hampshire has raised concern about plans to scrap local Healthwatch organisations and bring feedback and engagement in-house.
Healthwatch acts as the independent patient voice, feeding back experiences, complaints and needs to NHS trusts and primary care providers.
But the government has announced plans to scrap all local boards, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting saying the NHS needs "more doers and fewer checkers".
Area director for Healthwatch Hampshire Siobhan McCurrah told That's TV about how bringing feedback in-house threatens independence and patient privacy.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said:
"We recognise the hard work and successes of Healthwatch England and the local Healthwatch network.
These changes will make things clearer for patients and give them a stronger voice."
"Through our 10 Year Health Plan we will bring patient care into the 21st century, using tech and AI to make checks more rigorous and efficient and ensure we never turn a blind eye to failure."