Healthwatch Hampshire to continue!
We are delighted to welcome the Government's announcement that Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch will not be abolished, as previously proposed eighteen months ago.
This means Healthwatch Hampshire, alongside all 153 local Healthwatch organisations and our national body, Healthwatch England, will continue as your champion for health and care, ensuring your voices, opinions and experiences help make systems and services work better for local people and communities.
Looking ahead, the Government has also committed to strengthening Healthwatch, helping to give patients, service users and communities an even stronger voice in shaping health and social care services.
In Hampshire we’ve already seen the difference that public feedback makes. Our Annual report for 2025/26 releasedat the end of June showed how local people's experiences and views have helped influence improvements to services, raise awareness of key issues and drive positive change across health and care.
We'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported and worked alongside Healthwatch over the years, including local residents, community groups, volunteers and our partners in health and social care. Everyone’s support helps ensure people's voices remain at the heart of decisions about the services they use every day. We’ll continue to work alongside local people and partners to ensure community voices are heard in Hampshire.
Matthew Hilton, Chief Executive of The Advocacy People, host to 7 local Healthwatch said:
“The Advocacy People warmly welcomes this decision and the commitment to protecting the independent voice of patients, service users and communities.
Every day, local Healthwatch teams listen to people’s experiences of health and care, particularly those whose voices too often go unheard, and help turn those experiences into meaningful change.
As a provider of local Healthwatch services alongside our wider advocacy work, we believe people must have a strong, independent voice in the services that affect their lives.
This is good news for local communities and an opportunity to build on the commitment, expertise and relationships that Healthwatch teams have developed. We look forward to helping shape the future of Healthwatch and ensuring local people’s experiences continue to influence real change in health and care.”
We now await further details about the Government's plans to strengthen Healthwatch and what this will mean locally. We’ll keep you updated as more information becomes available.
We want to hear from you
We're collecting your stories and experiences about GP surgeries, Dentists, Hospitals, Pharmacies and all other health and social care services.
Tell us about your experiences and help shape the future of care.
Comments