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‘Mistake' to close health watchdog service, says York manager
‘Mistake' to close health watchdog service, says York manager

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Health
  • Yahoo

‘Mistake' to close health watchdog service, says York manager

The manager of Healthwatch York has said government plans to close the watchdog service are a 'mistake' – and called on local and national leaders to rethink the proposals. Siân Balsom said she is still 'reeling from the news' that the country-wide Healthwatch Network is to close, with the service's role due to be absorbed into local councils and integrated care boards. But Ms Balsom, writing in The Press, said: 'We're not giving up or giving in just yet.' She said Healthwatch York started in April 2013 to put people 'at the heart of health and social care'. And Ms Balsom said York residents can 'keep using and keep relying' on the service until the closure has been finalised. 'We're not giving up or giving in just yet,' says Healthwatch York manager The Healthwatch network is an independent statutory body which patients can contact to improve NHS standards of care. But under the government's plans, people will be encouraged to share their feedback via the NHS app instead. The health secretary, West Streeting, has said 'there are way too many checkers and not enough doers' in the health system. Responding to questions about the closure of Healthwatch England at the Local Government Association's annual conference in Liverpool, he said: 'I think there are lots of ways in which we have tried to create new bodies to fulfil the failure of other parts of the state to do their job effectively. 'I mean, the revolution we're leading in patient voice will mean we can get rid of some of the intermediaries, and we don't need ventriloquists to speak for patients, patients can speak for ourselves if we're given the opportunity to do it.' Siân Balsom, manager of Healthwatch York (Image: Supplied) Ms Balsom said she did 'not recognise this description of our work' from the health secretary. 'We ARE doers,' she said. 'We're out and about week in, week out, visiting care homes, local libraries, sitting down with carers groups and disabled people's organisations, community groups and local charities. 'We work closely with our voluntary sector partners to amplify the voices of those least heard in health and care. 'And we choose our priorities based on what you tell us every day – with more than 160 people in York speaking to us in June 2025 alone.' Ms Balsom said Healthwatch York has 'supported people to navigate complex systems and access the help they need'. 'We've published guides to mental health and wellbeing support and dementia support. 'We've challenged gaps in mental health support both when our mental health hospital was closed at short notice and when we heard ongoing concerns about crisis care. 'We've worked to improve access to GP services. 'We've independently evaluated the changes to the adult ADHD and autism pathway. 'We've taken the concerns of deaf people to the heart of the NHS, helping shape the Accessible Information Standard.' Ms Balsom described the proposals to close the Healthwatch Network as a 'mistake'. 'We urge local and national leaders to reflect on what will be lost if Healthwatch is stripped of its independence,' she said. 'An effective health and social care system must include a strong, visible, and impartial patient voice, one that listens without fear or favour, and speaks up without interference.'

'We're not giving up or giving in just yet,' says Healthwatch York manager
'We're not giving up or giving in just yet,' says Healthwatch York manager

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Health
  • Yahoo

'We're not giving up or giving in just yet,' says Healthwatch York manager

Following the government's announcement that the Healthwatch Network is to close, Siân Balsom, manager of Healthwatch York, has called on local and national leaders to rethink the proposals. Press readers will already know the government has decided to abolish Healthwatch England and the network of local Healthwatch organisations. Truth be told, here at Healthwatch York, my small team and I are all still reeling from the news. But we're not giving up or giving in just yet. Healthwatch York started in April 2013. Our role has always been clear to us – putting people at the heart of health and social care. Because the best people to shape services are those using them or, in too many cases, struggling to. Across England, local Healthwatch organisations have played a vital role in raising patient concerns. We shine a light on service failures. We drive improvements through honest, evidence-based reporting. Here in York, we have supported people to navigate complex systems and access the help they need. We've published guides to mental health and wellbeing support and dementia support. We've challenged gaps in mental health support both when our mental health hospital was closed at short notice and when we heard ongoing concerns about crisis care. We've worked to improve access to GP services. We've independently evaluated the changes to the adult ADHD and autism pathway. We've taken the concerns of deaf people to the heart of the NHS, helping shape the Accessible Information Standard. We've worked with the universities in our city to make sure more York voices are heard in research. These achievements were possible because you trusted us to speak up on your behalf. Not as part of the system but as a critical friend holding it to account. We have a seat at the table – attending the Health and Wellbeing Board and other key strategic meetings. But we've always known this isn't our seat – it belongs to each and every one of you, and we use everything we hear every time we take up that seat. Our independence is what enables us to speak both with authority and with integrity. Your voices are what gives our independence real power. We never forget the responsibility we carry to make sure you are heard. We've been told our roles will be absorbed into local authorities and integrated care boards. Our role in listening to people and gathering feedback will be replaced by the NHS app. We have serious concerns about those voices that will never be heard in such a system. Those who don't have smartphones, or the data to use them. Those living with health conditions that mean regular hospital stays are inevitable, and fear speaking out will impact their long-term care. Those who feel they are fighting the system already and have lost faith in its ability to change. Those who just want to tell their story, in their own words and their own time. We know this matters, because people frequently let us know that in telling us it is the first time this happens for them. Having read the NHS 10-year plan and Penny Dash's second review of patient safety, there is real concern they simply don't understand what we do. We've been described as 'ventriloquists' and 'checkers' in a system that needs more doers. We do not recognise this description of our work. We ARE doers. We're out and about week in, week out, visiting care homes, local libraries, sitting down with carers groups and disabled people's organisations, community groups and local charities. We work closely with our voluntary sector partners to amplify the voices of those least heard in health and care. And we choose our priorities based on what you tell us every day – with more than 160 people in York speaking to us in June 2025 alone. We believe the proposed changes are a mistake. We urge local and national leaders to reflect on what will be lost if Healthwatch is stripped of its independence. An effective health and social care system must include a strong, visible, and impartial patient voice, one that listens without fear or favour, and speaks up without interference. Despite the announcement, for us it is business as usual. We will continue at least until new legislation confirms the abolition and this is not expected until 2026. Your voices, your experiences, helping you access the help you need – these remain our priority. Email us at healthwatch@ or phone: 01904 621133. If like us you think independent voice matters, and you want to raise your concerns, please contact your local MP. We also expect to be sharing a petition alongside our Healthwatch network colleagues shortly.

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