In September 2025, over 130 local Healthwatch organisations united to launch a
national petition urging the government to reconsider its decision to abolish
Healthwatch. The petition highlighted the importance of maintaining an
independent patient voice in health and social care, warning that transferring
Healthwatch’s functions to local authorities and NHS bodies would weaken
accountability and transparency.

The petition received over 10,000 signatures,  
prompting a response from Government

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has confirmed that the
government will press ahead with its NHS reform plans, part of the wider
Ten-Year NHS Plan. These reforms plan to abolish Healthwatch England and all
local Healthwatch bodies, with their responsibilities absorbed into NHS and
local authority structures.

The Department of Health and Social Care argues that this
change will make patient engagement more efficient, reduce duplication, and
ensure feedback is fed directly into service planning. However, Healthwatch
teams feel strongly that in removing independence could weaken the patient
voice and reduce accountability.

Healthwatch are calling for more signatures, to reach the
100,000 mark which will mean that this issue will be debated in parliament.
Please sign and share far and wide to support the campaign to save independent
public voice.