Cooper retains Healthwatch to preserve independent patient oversight

Health Secretary Yvette Cooper has decided to retain Healthwatch England, abandoning a plan to abolish the independent patient champion. The decision reverses a core component of the government's reorganization of the health service in England.

The role was scheduled for removal as part of a wider restructuring. Under the previous plan, Healthwatch's functions would have been transferred to NHS regional integrated care boards and local councils. Instead, Cooper stated she would keep both Healthwatch England and Local Healthwatch while strengthening their mandates.

The change follows a period of legislative revisions since Andy Burnham became prime minister in July. This is the latest adjustment to the health bill, which has seen ministers drop several other provisions. Previous reversals include keeping the Health Services Safety Investigations Body, maintaining council representation on integrated care board structures, and retaining the requirement for a nurse on every NHS foundation trust board.

Parliamentarians from Labour, Conservative, and Liberal Democrat parties criticized the original proposal. They argued that removing the statutory body would eliminate a key mechanism for holding the service accountable. The Local Government Association warned that the change risked NHS organizations evaluating their own performance and created confusion for patients seeking information.

Healthwatch England and its 150 branches will continue to collect and analyze patient feedback. The organization will play an expanded role in identifying recurring concerns and pointing to areas where quality, safety, and patient experience require improvement. Supporters note that the body has published reports on issues such as declining access to NHS-funded dental treatment and long waiting times for ADHD assessments.

Cooper emphasized the need for a public voice in health services. She told the Guardian, “Patients need a voice in our NHS. I’ve always been clear on the importance of people and communities having a say in local services and that’s why I said I would review all reforms in this area.” She added, “We will retain Healthwatch England and Local Healthwatch, while strengthening them to ensure patient voices are heard and can influence real change across health and care services.”

Thea Stein, chief executive of the Nuffield Trust, commented on the decision. She stated, “Abolishing Healthwatch would have thrown away the independence that gave it credibility, without doing anything to address the reasons the NHS often don’t listen.” Stein described the initial plan as the wrong solution to a real problem.

Gillian Merron, the health minister in the Lords, will confirm the change of plan during peer debates on the health bill. Sources at the Department of Health and Social Care said the decision reflected a shared belief between Cooper and Burnham in public and local accountability.