Healthwatch Wandsworth update on the future of patient voice
In 2025 the Government announced that it wanted to change the law to make several changes to the NHS, including how patient and public voices are heard in health and social care.
The NHS Modernisation Bill has now been introduced to Parliament which sets out proposals. The Bill will go through Parliament and may be subject to amendment before any changes are finalised.
The bill includes:
1. Transferring the work of Healthwatch England to the Department of Health and Social Care.
2. Transferring the work of local Healthwatch services to the NHS and local authorities.
The bill also includes the abolition of Healthwatch England, changes to the roles and responsibilities of integrated care boards, changes to data functions and the single patient record.
Information about the entire Bill's wording and progress is available here and the Kings Fund have launched a page to explain more about what is happening.
What does this mean right now?
While these changes will happen over time, the law has not yet been changed and may take some time, at least until March 2027. These changes are subject to Parliamentary scrutiny and may be amended before becoming law.
In the meantime Wandsworth Care Alliance will continue to be here, working for you as Healthwatch Wandsworth. Wandsworth Care Alliance intend to continue to be present in Wandsworth championing community voice in the longer term and the Healthwatch mission as an independent organisation. You can read our business plan about what we will be doing this year and projects that the WCA Community Voice and Insights are planning, including Healthwatch work.
We continue to:
1. Listen to your experiences of health and social care.
2. Share what we hear with those in power to help improve services.
3. Provide advice and information to help you find the support you need.
What happens next
Whilst these changes are happening to patient voice and the NHS and Care system it has never been more important to share your experiences and shape the system. Sign-up to our newsletter to be notified about things you can get involved in.
The bill will now progress through a series of stages where MPs can comment or suggest amendments. Progress can be seen here.
Some people have told us that they are disappointed in the future direction for patient voice and service user voice. As the Bill progresses through parliament your local MP can speak up and raise concerns you might have.
Thank you to everyone for your support over the past 12-13 years, particularly to our staff and volunteers who have contributed so much energy and commitment to raising community voice. We hope to ensure that our work has a lasting legacy and learnings are built on by the new system.
