Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Healthwatch

Tuesday 9 June 2026 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial policy aims to integrate patient and user views directly into local commissioning decisions.
  • Abolition of Healthwatch raises concerns about how patient voices, especially for those with specific needs, will be heard.
  • Local Healthwatch examples show success in bringing about necessary changes, prompting calls for reviewing the Health Bill clauses to maintain independence.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Munira Wilson Lib Dem Twickenham
NHS
Context

Healthwatch organisations provide a crucial patient voice in healthcare services.

Question

If he will make it his policy to retain Healthwatch, given its importance in ensuring patient voices are heard and acted upon.

Answer from Karin Smyth

The hon. Member highlights a decades-old system where patient voice was divorced from decision makers, with over 20 organisations involved. The Health Bill aims to integrate patient and user views directly into commissioning decisions locally and through the creation of a new patient experience directorate at the national level.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about retaining Healthwatch was not addressed directly.

How: Putting Views At Heart Of Decision Making, Creating A New Patient Experience Directorate

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Q2 Steve Darling Lib Dem Torbay
NHS
Context

Healthwatch plays a critical role in ensuring that underrepresented groups are heard.

Question

The abolition of Healthwatch will see the NHS and Government marking their own homework. Can assurances be given about how patient voices, especially for those with learning disabilities, complex needs, and dementia, will be ensured to be heard?

Answer from Karin Smyth

The hon. Gentleman raises an important point about varied needs local commissioners need to address, which the Health Bill seeks to do by embedding patient views directly in commissioning decisions.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific assurances were provided.

How: Putting Views At Heart Of Decision Making

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Q3 Munira Wilson Lib Dem Twickenham
NHS
Context

Local Healthwatch organisations have played a crucial role in ensuring community services continue despite closure threats.

Question

When Boots decided to close two pharmacies, leaving elderly and vulnerable residents without local provision, Healthwatch Richmond ensured a new community pharmacy was provided. How can the Minister ensure that locally led patient voices are not replaced by Whitehall officials or ICBs suffering budget cuts?

Answer from Karin Smyth

The hon. Lady raises an interesting example of where local commissioners failed to provide a service upon its disappearance, highlighting the need for taking different voices into account rather than outsourcing responsibility.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No reconsideration commitment was given.

How: Different Voices, Local Commissioners Doing Their Job

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Q4 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
NHS
Context

Healthwatch York has produced reports leading to positive changes, illustrating the importance of independent advocacy.

Question

Replacing Healthwatch will mean patients losing confidence in commissioners. Given examples where local healthwatches have successfully brought about change, can the government review clauses 64 and 65 of the Health Bill to maintain Healthwatch's independence?

Answer from Karin Smyth

The hon. Friend highlights local healthwatch success stories, but notes that not all approaches work universally and suggests ICBs should determine their roles locally.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific review commitment was made.

How: Different Local Circumstances

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Q5 Jonathan Brash Lab Hartlepool
NHS
Context

Healthwatch Hartlepool has been instrumental in advocating for patient voices during system and service improvements.

Question

While supporting the government's aim to drive out NHS bureaucracy, what can be done to ensure that local Healthwatch expertise is retained in any new system?

Answer from Karin Smyth

The hon. Friend's comments are acknowledged, and it is noted that ICBs can undertake roles locally as they see fit.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific steps were committed to retaining local expertise.

How: Icbs Determining Their Role Locally

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