Proposed closure of Healthwatch

On Friday 27th June, the government announced that nationally Healthwatch is to be closed down, as part of a wider re-organisation. This will include Healthwatch East Sussex. Please read our initial response.

This is a huge shock and clearly a sad day for our staff, volunteers, and everyone associated with Healthwatch nationally, and especially in East Sussex.

The proposal to close Healthwatch has nothing to do with our performance either nationally or locally, rather it is a policy change by government. Along with Healthwatch, 200 other organisations are to close. Here is a link to a BBC article with some further details.

We await details on next steps, although we do know that legislative changes will be required to effect this change.

Until that happens, we remain committed to gathering patient and public voice, offering information and signposting support, and undertaking our projects in the same dedicated way.  

Please be assured we will update you as soon as we know more. In the meantime, we remain committed to business as usual, and all our existing activities, projects and meetings will go ahead as planned.

If you have any immediate concerns, questions or simply wish to show your support, then please do contact us at enquiries@healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk

Thank you for your continued support.