Nearly 10,000 York residents turned to Healthwatch York last year – to share concerns about health services or simply to get clear information they couldn’t find elsewhere.
Now the organisation that helped them is set to be scrapped.
Government plans to scrap all 153 local Healthwatch bodies across England would end the independent watchdog that holds the NHS and care system to account in York.
Under the proposed Health Bill, responsibility for gathering patient feedback would transfer to the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board – the body that plans, funds and oversees local health services.
Healthwatch York says that’s like letting services mark their own homework.
It is urging the government to rethink its plans – and many others are doing the same.
Siân Balsom, manager of Healthwatch York, said the timing made no sense. “Our abolition comes at a time when Healthwatch York is a trusted partner in our health and care system,” she said.
“More people than ever are contacting us. More organisations are working with us to make sure the voices of their members and service users are heard.”
York Central MP Rachael Maskell has spoken up for the organisation in Parliament. She said: “It is clear that Healthwatch is an essential part of our health system. Local Healthwatch branches do incredible work within their communities, and consistently help to hold health services to account.
“Healthwatch’s independence from government and from any other agencies ensures that there is vital trust in their work.”
She added: “On 1 June I raised the importance of Healthwatch in Parliament. I will continue to do all I can to advocate for a change in course.”
The scale of what the organisation does in York is considerable. Last year it published 26 reports – covering everything from GP website accessibility to trans and non-binary people’s experiences of health services.
Volunteers visited nine care homes and staffed more than 100 stalls and 10 talks across the city, from York’s Deaf Café to the Mosque to York College.
Those who work alongside Healthwatch York say losing it would leave a gap that couldn’t easily be filled.
One person working in a voluntary sector organisation said: “Working with Healthwatch York has been transformative to our work as a small organisation.
“Due to our limited capacity, we wouldn’t be able to advocate for the needs of our community in the same way without them.”
A primary care worker warned of what would be lost: “An independent and trusted patient voice. A consistent mechanism for capturing feedback. Insight from people who may not engage directly with NHS providers.
“A layer of constructive challenge and system accountability.”
An independent review by the King’s Fund, published in March 2026, concluded that any future model must maintain independence from the health and care system.
Healthwatch York is confirmed to continue until at least 31 March 2027, but its longer-term future depends on how Parliament decides to proceed with the Health Bill.
More information about the organisation’s work is here.
