Information Bulletin: Local HealthWatch

Under the Health and Social Care Bill which is currently going through parliament Local Involvement Networks (LINKs), including Liverpool LINk, will become Local HealthWatch organisations in 2012.

If the Health and Social Care Bill goes through as originally planned Local HealthWatch will be able to:

1.     Help shape the planning and delivery of local health and social care services - a continuation of Liverpool LINk’s current role;
2.     Provide information and advice to help people make choices about health and care services;
3.    Help to advocate for people making a complaint about health or adult care services.

Key differences between Local HealthWatch and LINk:

• LINk: Influences local health and adult care services. Local HealthWatch: Will participate in decision-making via local authority
• LINk: Health and Wellbeing Board Focuses on the community voice. Local HealthWatch: Will have more scope to help and support individuals as well
• LINk: Local voice.  Local HealthWatch: Local and national voice through HealthWatch England

HealthWatch England

HealthWatch England will be a statutory, distinctive part of the Care Quality Commission (CQC)¹ . It will:

• Provide leadership, advice and support to Local HealthWatch, creating greater consistency across the country;
• advise the NHS Commissioning Board, local authorities, Monitor² and the Secretary of State for Health about concerns raised by local HealthWatch organisations;
• have powers to propose that the CQC carries out an investigation if it has evidence of poorly performing local services.

What next?

Liverpool LINk will provide further information to the public as soon as we have access to national guidance and local strategic plans. Meanwhile, our work continues as usual. To keep up to date and to find out more about our work, contact us.

¹The Care Quality Commission is the independent regulator of all health and adult social care in England.

²Monitor is the independent regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts