National Review on Patient Safety Published
The report, which examined six key organisations involved in promoting and safeguarding patient safety - including Healthwatch England and Local Healthwatch - calls for a more strategic, streamlined and accountable approach to delivering safe and high-quality care across the NHS and social care sectors.
Click here to read the full review
The review highlights the increasing complexity of the current safety landscape and makes strong recommendations to reduce duplication, prioritise user experience, and put patients and service users at the centre of decision-making.
Of particular note is the proposal to essentially disband and restructure local Healthwatch as it currently exists and merge its functions within integrated care boards (ICBs) and Local Authorities - a move intended to better coordinate patient and community voices in healthcare service planning and design.
It also recommends that the strategic functions of Healthwatch England be transferred to a new Directorate for Patient Experience within DHSC, reinforcing the need for patient voice to be embedded more directly within national decision-making structures.
DASH review Summary
- The review, commissioned by DHSC, examined six national bodies involved in patient safety, including Healthwatch England and Local Healthwatch.
- It found duplication, gaps, and confusion in responsibilities across the safety and quality landscape.
- Despite significant investment in safety over the past decade, improvements have been limited and uneven.
- There is no unified national strategy for improving quality, and key areas like effectiveness and user experience are often neglected.
- The system for complaints and user feedback is fragmented, with over 20 organisations involved.
Recommendations include:
- Creating a stronger National Quality Board to lead a strategic, evidence-based approach.
- Disbanding Healthwatch in its current form, with its core feedback gathering and user engagement functions redistributed across ICBs, local authorities, and a new Directorate for Patient Experience within DHSC.
- Moving the Patient Safety Commissioner’s functions to more appropriate bodies (e.g. MHRA).
- Streamlining investigations and embedding responsibility for safety within providers and commissioners.
- Enhancing the role of data, AI, and governance in driving improvement.
The Government has accepted all recommendations and will pass legislation to enable it 'when time allows'.
What This Means for Healthwatch in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay
For us at Healthwatch in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, this review underscores the critical importance of listening to and amplifying the voices of local people. While we welcome the opportunity for greater integration with local NHS and care systems, we remain committed to ensuring that any changes strengthen - rather than dilute - our independence and effectiveness.
We will be actively engaging with partners across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay to ensure that the proposed reforms deliver on their promise to put people at the heart of health and care services.
As Healthwatch - as it currently exists - is being disbanded, with its key functions integrated into other organisations, we will also seek clarity on how any restructuring will affect our operations, funding, and accountability. This includes our staff, volunteers, and trustees.
While these changes will happen over time, the law has not yet been changed. Until legislation is passed, the DHSC will advise local authorities to continue commissioning local Healthwatch services.
We will therefore continue to champion the needs and concerns of our diverse local communities and ensure the voices of people in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay are heard where health and care decisions are made.
We will keep you updated as more details become available. In the meantime, thank you for the messages of support we’ve received from people across the NHS, local councils, voluntary organisations, and the public.
Click here for more on the NHS 10 Year Plan and what it means for you
