Don’t take away our voice! People in Sefton need an Independent Healthwatch
The release of both the NHS 10 Year Plan, published 3rd July and The Dash Review shared the Governments plans to transfer the functions of local Healthwatch under the control of local authorities and NHS bodies
Independent Healthwatch organisations are a vital part of our health and care landscape – established in law to ensure that the voice of patients and the public is heard and acted upon. To suggest removing this independent role would mark a significant and concerning shift. The ability to speak freely and truthfully about services cannot come from within the very systems being scrutinised. Taking away this independence would effectively silence the public’s voice in health and social care – erasing a critical channel for real-life experiences to shape the quality, safety, and fairness of care.
Without an independent voice, health inequalities are likely to deepen, and our understanding of people’s experiences will become narrower and less inclusive. It’s essential to remember why the local Healthwatch network was created – to challenge, represent, and influence from outside the system.
Our independence is what makes this work meaningful.
Especially during times of pressure and crisis in the NHS and care services, our staff in Sefton, listen to residents feedback and experiences that may otherwise go unheard. We carry these experiences and the insights and trends we gather into decision-making spaces because that’s what people need from us, and when we do, we know leaders take notice.
Being independent matters because honesty needs protection. When the people you’re speaking about also manage your care or control your funding, there is a natural hesitation. People need safe distance to speak openly – free from fear, judgment, or repercussions. If trust is lost in how feedback is gathered and used, many voices will simply fall silent.
We carry out our role with purpose and integrity, striking a balance between constructive challenge and effective collaboration. Our strength lies in reaching everyone, including those whose views might otherwise be missed. If these proposals go ahead, it is this trusted connection into communities that will disappear.
Across Cheshire and Merseyside, the nine local Healthwatch work collaboratively to represent over 2.5 million people. Together, we’ve brought real-life feedback into key conversations on GP access, urgent care, dentistry, hospital discharge, and more — helping shape services around what matters to people.
We have just published our annual report which you can read here, which shows how we reach out to communities and ensure feedback is listened to and acted on. If you are unable to access the report online, please get in touch using the details below.
We’re Still Here for You
These changes will require new legislation and Healthwatch Sefton remains open and working for you.
We continue to:
- Listen to your experiences of health and social care.
- Share what we hear to help improve services.
- Provide advice and information to help you find the right support.
You can still contact us in all of the usual ways. Call for free on 0800 206 1304/ info@healthwatchsefton.co.uk
We’ll keep you updated as more details emerge. Thank you for your continued support. The outpouring of messages from local residents, stakeholders and commissioners in recent weeks has been a powerful reminder that Healthwatch Sefton is more than just an organisation — it’s the independent voice for Sefton residents.