Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the planned timescale is for the abolition of Healthwatch England.

The closure of Healthwatch England and the transfer of its functions will require primary legislation. The Dash review of patient safety across the health and care landscape, published in July 2025, recommends that the strategic functions of Healthwatch England are transferred into the new patient experience directorate of the Department. The timing of this is subject to the will of Parliament, and will happen when parliamentary time allows.