Plans to scrap a health watchdog risk removing a route for people to raise concerns about care and services openly and honestly, York councillors have warned.
Councillors have called on the Government to ensure patients and the public continue to have a robust, trusted and truly independent mechanism to voice concerns if Healthwatch is abolished.
City of York Council’s Labour health spokesperson Cllr Lucy Steels-Walshaw said proposals to take the body’s functions in-house risked removing the independence which allowed patients to raise concerns about services openly.
Opposition Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Cllr Carol Runciman said some of the worst failures in the NHS and other services were caused by people not being listened to.
Labour Health Secretary Wes Streeting plans to scrap Healthwatch as part of wider reforms to the way the NHS is run.
It would. be rolled into the Department for Health and Social Care under a new Patient Experience Directorate.
Local Healthwatch functions would be brought into local authorities and NHS bodies in an effort to reduce bureaucracy.
Speaking at York council’s full meeting on Thursday, 26 March, Cllr Steels-Walshaw said the concerning proposals represented a profound shift in health services.
The Labour health executive member said: “For more than a decade Healthwatch has been a trusted independent group for people to share their experiences.
“That independence isn’t a luxury, it’s the foundation that allows people who feel unable to raise concerns directly to do so openly and honestly and it’s what enables transparency.
“We recognise new standards are needed but we must do everything in our power to maintain independence.”
Liberal Democrat Cllr Runciman said there was a risk that patient voices would not be heard if Healthwatch is abolished.
The opposition health spokesperson said: “The Government isn’t tweaking Healthwatch, it’s abolishing it.
“Some of the worst failings in health services didn’t happen because people weren’t speaking, it’s because people weren’t listened to.
“Not everyone knows how to navigate the system or feels safe speaking to the organisations responsible for their care.”
