MP pledges to campaign for independent Healthwatch voice

WARRINGTON South MP Sarah Hall has pledged to campaign for independent advocacy following a meeting with under threat Healthwatch Warrington.

With the Government planning to axe Healthwatch organisations nationally as part a 10-year plan for the NHS, Warrington would lose an independent champion for people using health and social care services. It acts as a voice for the public, gathering feedback and experiences to improve services.

Ms. Hall recently met with the Healthwatch Warrington team, including Chief Executive Lydia Hughes, to hear directly about the vital work the independent body carries out on behalf of residents. The meeting explored the impact of national changes, key local campaigns, and plans to support community voices across health and care.
Healthwatch Warrington is facing uncertainty in light of the UK government’s recent announcement to abolish Healthwatch England and its local network by 2026, as part of its broader NHS reforms.
Healthwatch has long served as an independent, confidential voice advocating for health and social care users. It offers free, impartial advice, collects feedback, and ensures decision-makers hear people’s experiences.
At the meeting, Ms Hughes outlined the organisation’s new “About Me” Awareness Card scheme being rolled out in Warrington Hospital and sponsored by Warrington-Worldwide. Inspired by Healthwatch Essex’s trauma-aware initiative, the card flags medical settings that may trigger trauma responses, such as windowless rooms or certain questions, to support personalised, trauma-sensitive care.
Healthwatch’s interim Home Care report, “Time, Trust & Care,” reveals findings from nearly 80 residents and families across Warrington. Home care was chosen as a top local priority. The interim results highlighted inconsistent visit durations, language barriers, high staff turnover, especially affecting people with dementia, and mixed professionalism across providers.
Ms Hall added:“Independent advocacy matters especially in a system as complex as health and social care. Healthwatch plays a vital role in helping people be heard, and that principle must not be lost in national reform.
“Whatever changes happen nationally, the core principle must remain: people in Warrington deserve a voice in the care they receive.
“I’ll continue working with Healthwatch Warrington and local partners to explore how we protect that advocacy and secure a future model that works for people here in Warrington”.