Announcement: Closure of Local Healthwatch

News - 30 June 2025

On Friday, the Government announced its intention to close Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch like ours.
Your Voice Counts

Healthwatch has been named as one of 201 organisations involved in overseeing or delivering parts of the NHS that are to be scrapped. This is clearly a sad and unsettling moment for our staff, volunteers, and everyone associated with Healthwatch Waltham Forest, who have proudly supported local people to speak up about their experiences of health and social care.

Over the past twelve years, we have helped thousands of residents raise concerns, access vital advice, and influence meaningful change in the local services they rely on. By championing the voice of the people in Waltham Forest, we’ve contributed to real improvements across health and social care.

At present, we have very little information about the timescales for closure. While we await further details, we will continue to gather community insights, offer advice and information to residents, and ensure your voices are heard by service providers. Please continue to engage with us as we work to support the health and wellbeing of local people.

Take five minutes to share your experiences

NHS and social care staff are doing everything they can to keep us well during these challenging times, but there might be things that can be improved for you and your loved ones, both in the area you live in and across the country.

Have your say

You might also be interested in

Patient at Whipps Cross

Annual Report 2024-2025

Over the past year, we’ve helped more than 8,400 people have their say about health and care in Waltham Forest.

Our work has directly shaped GP access, maternity services, and vaccine confidence—ensuring decisions are grounded in real experiences.

We published 54 reports and reached out to underrepresented communities, including Romanian residents, people experiencing homelessness, and young people.

Our Good Care Framework is now embedded in local strategy, and our insights are influencing the design of new health hubs, making services more joined-up and inclusive.
Report