King’s Fund Report Backs Importance of Independent Patient Voice
Government plans to end the existence of an independent voice for patients and service users in health and social care have come under challenging scrutiny with the publication of a major new report by the respected think tank, the King’s Fund.
Local Healthwatch have welcomed the King’s Fund report, which also received backing from former Labour Minister Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, who was also the first Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation.
Government proposals raise concerns
Ministers intend to introduce a bill which will include clauses that will abolish Healthwatch England and the network of local Healthwatch organisations across the country, which speak up for patients and the public and hold NHS and social care services to account.
The government says that local Healthwatch services will be brought “in house” and transferred to Integrated Care Boards and local authorities. The responsibilities of Healthwatch England will be taken over by a new Director of Patient Experience within the Department of Health and Social Care. If they go ahead, these changes will end more than fifty years of government recognition of independent patient voice.
What the King's Fund Found
The King’s Fund Report “The Future of Patient Voice: Learning from the Healthwatch Model” underlines that:
- Independence is a key strength and has given Healthwatch credibility with the public.
- Strong local relationships allow Healthwatch to gather feedback and highlight how the health and social care system is working for patients and service users.
- Although the current model could be improved further, Healthwatch has been more impactful than previous models of patient voice.
- Any new system must demonstrate independence of government and the wider health and social care system if it is to retain public trust.
Support from sector leaders
Richard Burden, Local Healthwatch Working Together Parliamentary Engagement Coordinator and Chair of Healthwatch Birmingham and Solihull, said:
“Patients and the public deserve better than to have the NHS and local authorities marking their own homework... The Kings Fund report is a balanced analysis of the key issues at stake here and I hope it will encourage Ministers to think again”
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath added:
“Governments of all colours have recognised the importance of independence in patient voice for over fifty years. Providers of health and social care need to know what patients and service users feel about the care they receive, including things that are sometimes uncomfortable to hear.
However genuine Ministers are in encouraging health and social care bodies to monitor patients’ experience themselves, it is vital that service users can always be confident there is also an independent body that can speak up on their behalf, without fear or favour.
Along with colleagues in both Houses of Parliament, I will be working to ensure that this principle is not lost when the forthcoming Health Reform Bill is debated."
Read the full report
You can read the full report in the King's Fund website, or download a PDF of the report below.
