Our response to the King’s Fund's report on learnings from the Healthwatch model

Published 18th March 2026

Responding to The King’s Fund report ‘The future of patient voice: learning from the Healthwatch model’, Rachel Power, Chief Executive of the Patients Association, said: 

“The findings of The King’s Fund’s report reinforce many of the concerns we raised at the government’s decision to close Healthwatch England and its local network. 

“In particular, the report highlights the critical importance of independence, strong local relationships, and the ability to gather rich insight from diverse and often underrepresented communities; strengths that we have seen first-hand in our work alongside Healthwatch. 

“It also echoes our view that local, trusted patient voice infrastructure is not easily replaced. As the Government reshapes the health and care landscape, it must ensure that genuine patient partnership is enhanced, not diminished, in the process. Without this, the ambitions for greater ‘patient power’ at the heart of the 10-Year Health Plan for England will be difficult to realise. The voices of patients must remain at the heart of the journey towards a fairer, safer, and more responsive NHS.” 

For media enquiries contact: [email protected].