Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of maintaining Healthwatch alongside increased levels of lived experience inclusion in commissioning processes.

The Government recognises the valuable role Healthwatch has played in supporting patient and public involvement. However, Dr Penny Dash’s independent review of the patient safety landscape found the current system is too fragmented and does not always turn feedback into action. The Government has accepted Dr Dash's recommendation to bring together the work of Local Healthwatch with those who commission services. Through the Health Bill we are placing responsibility for obtaining and actioning the views of local people on health services with integrated care boards, and on care services with local authorities. Our intention is to bring patient voice closer to decision-makers, rather than maintaining a separate Healthwatch structure alongside new arrangements.