York council will aim to keep giving patients an independent voice if plans to scrap a health care watchdog body go ahead.
That’s the message of Labour’s Cllr Lucy Steels-Walshaw, the council’s health lead, who said she was shocked that the Government was planning to axe Healthwatch York.
She responded to Liberal Democrat opposition councillor Chris Cullwick who called on her to condemn the move and plans for app-based health care feedback which he said could disenfranchise millions of patients.
It comes as Government proposals would see all the Healthwatch teams axed as part of plans to scrap 201 organisations under its ten-year strategy for the health sector.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting told Parliament earlier this month the strategy aimed to localise NHS care, invest in technology and focus on prevention to make services fit for the future.
The Labour health secretary said patients did not need ventriloquist arms-length bodies speaking for them .
Healthwatch was set up in 2012 to take feedback from health and care service users to hold the NHS and other providers to account and push for improvements.
The functions of Healthwatch would be brought under the control of local authorities under plans to end what Mr Streeting said was an overly-complex system of regulation and oversight.
Patients will instead be encouraged to give feedback using the NHS smartphone app which Mr Streeting said would become the front door of the service under the Government’s 10-year plan.
But the plans have sparked fears that the independence of those providing feedback on services could be undermined.
The heads of 131 local Healthwatch bodies, including York’s Siân Balsom, wrote to Mr Streeting saying the move risked softening inconvenient truths and diluting feedback.
Liberal Democrat Cllr Cullwick told the council’s full meeting on Thursday, July 17 Healthwatch played a vital role in amplying patients’ voices.
The Huntington and New Earswick ward councillor said: “Pushing people to provide feedback through an app will only serve to widen health inequalities.”
The council’s ruling Labour health executive member Cllr Steels-Walshaw said she was concerned about people potentially being excluded by the plans.
She added she hoped the moves to digital services would free up support for those who were unable to access them.
The executive member said: “When I saw the 10-year plan I was really shocked that it spoke about Healthwatch.
“I’m mindful that staff and volunteers are going through an uncertain time, we recognise that new structures are needed but we will do our utmost to maintain that independent voice.”