Local Healthwatch services are here to listen to the issues that matter to their communities, and to give local people a voice to speak up about experiences with health and social care services.
Across England, there are 151 local Healthwatch services. Their statutory role includes finding out what people want from health and social care and providing reliable information and advice about local services.
This work is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). DHSC gives money to local councils so they can commission an effective Healthwatch service.
We host three Healthwatch services: Healthwatch Brent, Healthwatch Kensington & Chelsea and Healthwatch Westminster. Each team is embedded within their local area, working with grassroots groups, community and voluntary sector organisations, healthcare providers and Council representatives to highlight concerns and push for improvements.
Healthwatch has a statutory power to carry out Enter and View visits. This allows Healthwatch teams to visit health and social care providers, speak with patients and staff and produce a snapshot of how that service is performing, as well with recommendations for improvement.
Our Healthwatch teams also provide advice and signposting within their boroughs, supporting better access to health and social care services and helping people know what to do next if something goes wrong.
Find out more about our three local Healthwatch services: