Our response to the Government proposal to abolish independent Healthwatch
Following the leak of information about the NHS 10-year plan before it was released - Wednesday 2 July 2025
Healthwatch Leeds Statement in response to the Government's proposal to abolish independent Healthwatch
On 27th June, we heard the unexpected news that the Healthwatch network was going to be closed down, including Healthwatch Leeds. We are deeply saddened and extremely concerned by this announcement and the abolition of Healthwatch Leeds as the independent health and care voice champion for the people of Leeds.
“Healthwatch is independent and speaks truth to power, amplifies the voice of citizens, and works across the health and social care partnership. It identifies when actions in one part of the system have negative impacts elsewhere.
In Leeds, we have a significant impact and are appreciated for holding the local system to account.
We are shocked and frustrated about the proposal to divide health and social care oversight and take this function in-house. This will destroy independence, lose system oversight and muffle the voice of those who use services.”
For over a decade, Healthwatch Leeds has been the trusted, independent channel through which local people, carers, and communities have had their experiences heard and acted upon. If these proposals go ahead, they will take away that independence, silencing meaningful people’s voices at a time of huge and significant change and reduction in services by the NHS and social care.
Why abolishing independent Healthwatch is dangerous?
- Loss of accountability: Without a body scrutinising services, the risk of repeating past systemic failures, such as the Mid‑Staffordshire scandal that led to Healthwatch’s creation in 2012, drastically increases.
- A reductive alternative: Replacing conversations with a star-rating feature on the NHS app, following appointments, cannot uncover the reasons behind why care fails or succeeds. For many Leeds residents, digital tools can be helpful, but are not a solution, as for some, they are an additional barrier. What about those who are digitally excluded, don’t speak English as a first language, or rely on advocacy to be heard? Additionally, what about those who struggle to access services in the first place? Our research indicates that the proposed mechanism is likely to worsen health inequalities in Leeds.
- Independence matters: People come to us for advice and support and to share their experience of services because of our independence. We are a trustworthy organisation that is here for people and truly listens to them. Taking away independence is taking away people's confidence in providing honest feedback, with fears that feedback may negatively affect the care they receive or not make a difference at all. Furthermore, it creates bias where the NHS and social care are essentially being asked to mark their own homework.
The value Healthwatch Leeds adds locally
- We have consistently shone a light on issues affecting most people of Leeds, ranging from access to GPs and dentists and mental‑health services to care home provision and the accessibility of information for visually‑impaired and d/Deaf communities.
- Our in-depth reports and impactful videos are routinely used by NHS Trusts, Leeds Integrated Care Board and Leeds City Council as catalysts for service improvement.
- We work collaboratively with providers, yet our independence empowers us to speak out publicly when services fall short, something no internal mechanism can replicate.
Next steps and a message to the people and partners of Leeds
- We are humbled and deeply grateful for the messages of support we have received from local people, partners and colleagues across our health and care partnership, Leeds City Council, NHS and voluntary sector partners. Your solidarity demonstrates the value of the collaborative relationships that have made Healthwatch Leeds effective over the past 12 years.
- The government’s plan is not yet in effect. Healthwatch was established by the Health and Social Care Act 2012, and our abolition needs legislative change, which will take time. In light of this, it is business as usual and our work to bring the voice of people into the heart of health and care decision making in Leeds continues.
- During the coming months we look forward to working with health and care partners in Leeds to look at how we build on our work and impact and retain that key component of a healthy health and care system, that of an independent health and care voice champion.
- Many thanks again for all your support and look forward to a positive next chapter for Healthwatch Leeds.
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