The Secretary of State for Health has published a new NHS White Paper, setting out the coalition Government's vision for the NHS. 'Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS' sets out proposals to create a patient-centred NHS, which focuses on improving their experience and health outcomes and that empowers professionals to take control of services. The proposals include strengthening the patient's voice through the introduction of a new consumer champion HealthWatch. There is also a proposal for LINks to become the local HealthWatch - ensuring that in every area there continues to be a champion for patients' concerns across health and social care services.

Local HealthWatch will also have the power to recommend that poor services are investigated. They will be funded by and accountable to local authorities, and this will include local authorities having responsibility for ensuring that local HealthWatch are operating effectively, and for putting in place better arrangements if they are not. Local authorities will be able to commission local Health or HealthWatch England to "provide advocacy and support, helping people access and make choices about services, and supporting individuals who want to make a complaint."

At a National Level - HealthWatch will provide leadership, advice and support to local Health Watch. HealthWatch will also provide advice to the NHS Commissioning Board, Monitor and the Secretary of State.

HealthWatch England will have powers to propose the Care Quality Commission investigations of poor services.

HealthWatch to be established in April 2012

Have your say

As well as the White Paper consultation, a number of documents will be issued in the following weeks that outline various proposals in more detail. The Government wants to hear your views and the views of your community on HealthWatch and other proposals set out in the White Paper. The Department will be undertaking a range of activities to explore HealthWatch in more detail with LINks, the NHS and other partners. Find out more and have your say on the White Paper