On 3 July 2025, the Government released its 10-Year Health Plan for England. While it outlines some positive reforms to improve patient care, such as better GP and dental access, expanded pharmacy services, and improvements to the NHS App, it also includes plans to dismantle Healthwatch as an independent voice.

As a contract holder for four Healthwatch teams, we know patients face issues every day when trying to access much-needed care and support. We have heard many times that issues raised directly to the NHS are not always handled in a way that is focused on patient need.

It is vital that the UK Government looks to improve patient care and services provided, and whilst we welcome many of the changes proposed with the 10-year Health Plan, we are deeply concerned that the abolishment of Healthwatch will silence the voices of people who need us the most.

Our teams across the Humber are rooted in local communities, ensuring that everyone has a voice. Replacing this with an in-house service that is ‘using tech and AI to make checks more rigorous and efficient’ will act to marginalise communities, rather than improve patient experience.

The decision to scrap an independent body, whose existence is to provide an ear and voice to patients, to help guide them to the support they need and to champion their issues without bias, is a decision that will erode patient care and confidence, not improve it.

A total of 131 Healthwatch teams have signed an open letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care about the proposal to scrap Healthwatch, urging for it to be reconsidered. They are also asking local people to sign their petition, so this decision is required to be discussed in Parliament: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/732993

Carrie Duran, Head of Health and Care Programmes at Hull CVS spoke to BBC Radio Humberside and Look North to highlight the importance of patients being able to receive completely impartial and independent support, which is essential to the UK Government in creating a health and care system that has public trust and confidence.

If you wish to read the full article, please visit: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0e9r2drz4yo