Local Healthwatch

That this House supports the principle that people should be able to speak up and be heard without fear, favour, or interference about health and care services; believes an independent patient voice service is vital to representing the experiences of patients, service users, and the public in health and social care; notes with concern Government proposals to abolish local Healthwatch’s independent statutory functions; further believes that strong, independent patient and public advocacy is essential to ensure accountability, improve services, and uphold the founding principles of the NHS and social care systems; urges Ministers to reaffirm their commitment to meaningful public involvement in health and social care by promoting independent public voice initiatives across England; and calls on the Government to abandon their plans to close local Healthwatch and to protect and preserve the vital independent patient representation which has existed since 1974.