Patients will
today have a stronger voice under plans set out by Health
Secretary, Andrew Lansley.
75 Local HealthWatch pathfinders, introduced as part of the
Government’s plans to modernise the NHS, were announced today.
These new learning networks will champion patients’ views and
experiences, promote the integration of local services and improve
choice for patients through advice and access to information.
Local HealthWatch will provide a collective voice for patients
and carers, and advise the new Clinical Commissioning Groups on
the shape of local services to ensure they are informed by the
views of the local community.
Visiting a new HealthWatch pathfinder in
Cambridgeshire, Andrew Lansley said:
“Putting patients and the public at the very heart of the health
service is central to our vision of modernising the NHS and today
is a huge step forward.
“Local HealthWatch will give patients and carers a real say over
how their local health service is run. They will act as patient
champions, drive local involvement in the community and ensure
patients understand the choices available to them.”
Councillor Catherine Hutton, Portfolio Holder for
Adult Services at Cambridgeshire
County Council, said:
“Cambridgeshire’s HealthWatch Pathfinder will build on the strong
joint work that is happening in health and social care services
across the county. The County Council is working together with
local GPs, the local health service and Cambridgeshire Local
Involvement Network to make sure that people have a voice in
health and social care services.”
Mike Hewins, Chairman of Cambridgeshire Local
Involvement Network, said:
“Cambridgeshire LINk has always worked hard to put patients and
service users at the forefront of its work. As a HealthWatch
Pathfinder, we’ll be able to reach out and work with many more
people in Cambridgeshire and ensure that they are fully involved
in health and social care in the county.”
The 75 Local HealthWatch pathfinders established today will
pioneer plans ahead of their full establishment across the country
in October 2012.
Notes to Editors
For media enquiries including to request an interview with
Andrew Lansley please contact the Department of Health press
office on 020 7210 5221
The NHS White Paper - Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS
can be found here:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_117353
A list of all the HealthWatch Pathfinders can be accessed via
the attached file.
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk