Countdown to Healthwatch

Countdown to HealthWatch

The new consumer watchdog HealthWatch, is busy getting ready to ensure it is fully operational before its official launch in October 2012.

HealthWatch will be the consumer champion for health and social care in England.  It will have two roles - one as local HealthWatch organisations, funded by and accountable to the public via local authorities; and also as the national HealthWatch England, enabling collective views of people who use the NHS and social care services, to influence national policy.

The HealthWatch England will be a statutory committee of the CQC but will have its own distinct identity.

The organisation will have three main functions:

·       to provide leadership, guidance and support to local HealthWatch organisations

·       to escalate concerns about health and social care services raised by local HealthWatch to the CQC, which in turn will be required to respond to advice from its HealthWatch England subcommittee

·       to provide advice to the Secretary of State, NHS Commissioning Board, Monitor and the English local authorities; they will be required to respond to that advice.

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