We share our views on government plans to provide medical researchers and NHS managers with access to people’s personal medical records.
We are calling on the Rt. Hon Mr Hunt to create a single regulatory regime for different uses of patient records and ensure that people have the right to opt out of all government data sharing projects.
Read our response to The Department of Health’s consultation on proposals to strengthen the controls on the use of an individuals health and care data.
Our response also includes issues that people have been sharing with local Healthwatch across the country about worries about the security of their data.
Healthwatch from across England share their concerns in Westminster to make sure people can have their say about changes to health services in their area.
Healthwatch from across England share their concerns in Westminster to make sure people can have their say about changes to health services in their area.
We have written to NHS England to assess to Clinical Commissioning Groups can involve local Healthwatch in changes to how health and care services are run.
We have written to the Local Government Association to discuss how we can work together to ensure that Clinical Commissioning Groups involve the public in decision making processes.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has announced plans to introduce a new 'special measures' scheme for GP practices that will see those offering poor care being given deadlines to make improvements and facing closure if they fail.
The special measures scheme will be introduced from GP practices from October this year.
The way decisions are made about local health services is changing. Early indications from local Healthwatch suggest that this is resulting in the public feeling less able to have their say.
We've heard from local Healthwatch across the country that Super CCGs are failing to involve their communities in major decisions about redesigning services - from hospitals and GP surgeries to dentists and care homes.
We have written to the Secretary of State about our concerns about reduced local accountability arrangements around commissioning.
Local Healthwatch are reporting that these new structures are cutting corners and making little effort to actively engage their local populations in major decisions about the redesign of services.