Share your concerns about the Government's plan to bring local Healthwatch services 'in-house'
- Healthwatch Somerset
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
Updated: 2 hours ago
Sign the Local Healthwatch petition and write to your MP using our downloadable letter template.
As part of changes to the NHS set out in the 10-Year Plan, and in response to the Penny Dash report the Government will end local Healthwatch services and bring them under control of the Local Authority and the Integrated Care Board.
131 local Healthwatch services across England have signed a powerful open letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, urging the government to reconsider proposals.
"Since 1974 there has been continuous parliamentary support for independent public voice initiatives being able to hold services to account. Therefore, we urge you to reconsider this direction. Instead of dismantling independence, we should be strengthening it - ensuring every community has access to strong, well-resourced, and fearless local public voice initiatives that hold services to account and shape care that truly meets people’s needs."
If you are concerned about the impact these changes will have on the effect of your local independant voice, advice, and support then use your voice. Let your colleagues, communities, family, and friends know about the changes and how it may effect them.
Local Healthwatch petition
Local Healthwatch have put together a petition calling on the government to protect the independence of local voices in health and care and we ask for your support in signing it:
Write to your MP
You can send your MP your completed copy of our letter either by email or through the post.
Download the the letter below:
You can also copy and paste the text below into an email or alternative document format:
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Postcode]
[Your Email – optional]
[Date]
[MP’s Name]
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
Dear [MP's Name],
Re: Concern over proposed changes to local Healthwatch services
I am writing as a constituent to share my concern about recent announcements that the Government plans to bring local Healthwatch services ‘in-house’ as part of changes to the NHS set out in the 10-Year Plan, and in response to the Penny Dash report.
As you will know, local Healthwatch organisations were established to ensure that patients and the public have an independent voice in how health and social care services are planned and delivered. Healthwatch Somerset — like many across the country — plays a vital role in listening to local people, highlighting what is working and where improvements are needed, and ensuring that services reflect the needs of the communities they serve.
Moving these services in-house risks undermining their independence and their ability to speak honestly and clearly on behalf of patients and service users. The current Healthwatch structure allows it to operate without conflict of interest — something that will be hard to maintain if accountability shifts to the very organisations it is meant to scrutinise.
This change feels deeply worrying and hard to understand. Healthwatch has built trust with the public by being rooted in communities and able to speak truth to power. Taking that away risks silencing local voices and losing valuable insight that helps improve services.
I hope you will be aware of these concerns and continue to follow this issue closely as it develops. I simply wanted to add my voice to what I understand is a growing number of people who feel that this is not the right direction for public involvement in health and care.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
Check your local county constituency (CC) here: Parliamentary constituencies in Somerset - Wikipedia
Bridgwater CC: Contact information for Sir Ashley Fox - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament
Frome and East Somerset CC: Contact information for Anna Sabine - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament
Glastonbury and Somerton CC: Contact information for Sarah Dyke - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament
Taunton and Wellington CC: Contact information for Gideon Amos - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament
Tiverton and Minehead CC: Contact information for Rachel Gilmour - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament
Wells and Mendip Hills CC: Contact information for Tessa Munt - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament
Yeovil CC: Contact information for Adam Dance - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament
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