Healthwatch Sheffield held a ‘Community Voices’ event recently celebrating all of Healthwatch Sheffield’s community partners, including our own Advocacy service at Disability Sheffield to thank everyone for their contribution to the work of Healthwatch and what great work that is and has been for over a decade!
It’s unbelievable therefore to hear media reports about the Government’s plans to close Healthwatch England and other patient experience organisations and transfer their statutory functions to the Department of Health and Social Care. This will mean the closure of Sheffield Healthwatch, which would be a great loss to our community!
In a statement on their website Sheffield Healthwatch remains calm, steadfast and focused on the community they serve so well.
“We are concerned about a loss of independent accountability, at a time of significant challenge in the health and care sector. However we remain committed to providing a trusted service to patients and the public and want to reassure our community that nothing changes immediately.
Our volunteers and staff — passionate, dedicated individuals who live and work within the communities they serve — have worked tirelessly to build trusted relationships and ensure that public feedback leads to meaningful improvements in statutory services. We are proud of our record in contributing to a stronger, more joined up and responsive NHS and social care system.
We will continue to deliver our core services with professionalism and commitment. We will be working with decision makers to elevate the importance of independent public voice, and advocate for a future where people’s experiences remain central to shaping the care they receive”
You can read the full statement on their website Patients deserve an independent voice and we hope the Government will reconsider their plans.
