Healthwatch services facing closure; Self-care study reveals inequalities; Resource addresses trust in digital health

Healthwatch among NHS agencies being scrapped

Healthwatch England is one of 201 bodies responsible for overseeing and running parts of the NHS that is set to be scrapped by the government. 

The BBC has reported that Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the current system was too complex and the NHS needed "more doers and fewer checkers".

Healthwatch England was set up in 2012 to speak out on behalf of NHS and social care patients and to advise ministers when services were not up to scratch. It has more than 150 local branches. Louise Ansari, the chief executive of Healthwatch England, told the BBC: "Over the past 12 years, we've helped millions of people raise concerns, access vital advice, and influence real change in the services they rely on. Our focus now is on ensuring a smooth transition of our functions to the NHS and government, so that the voices of patients and the public continue to be heard."

Healthwatch has also led the coalition campaigning for the update to the Accessible Information Standard. This is now well overdue and without Healthwatch's leadership the future of the update and its legal status is unclear. 

The axing of the NHS agencies follows the announcement in March that NHS England would be abolished as part of Labour's 10-year health strategy. 

Read more about the NHS agencies being axed on the BBC website here.

Study: Deep inequalities in self-care confidence and behaviour

The findings from one of the largest national studies ever conducted on self-care has revealed stark demographic differences in how people manage common health symptoms and what gets in the way. 

PIF member, the Self-Care Forum, in collaboration with the Self-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU) at Imperial College London, spearheaded the Living Self-Care Survey Study to understand people’s self-care confidence, health professional support and health literacy levels. 

A total of 3,255 UK adults took part in the study which found that self-care is happening but is uneven and often unsupported. It found that older people are more confident in self-care while men, people with disabilities and those with long-term conditions are not. Ethnic minorities show higher self-care confidence but are less likely to look for health information. Despite the strong culture of self-management, pharmacists and digital resources remain underused. 

The Self-Care Forum said to support better self-care, we must tailor interventions to specific groups. Strengthening pharmacy-led community support and improving access to digital health tools could be transformative to empowering diverse populations.  

Read more about the study and its finding on the Self-Care Forum website here.

Resource addresses digital health trust barriers

The Good Things Foundation has shared the key learnings from a research project which led to the co-creation of a new resource to help address barriers to using digital health services.

With funding through the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance, the foundation worked with people with lived experience of digital exclusion and developed a leaflet to prompt discussion about concerns and to help people feel more confident to make choices around digital health services. The belief and trust concerns addressed in the leaflet include:

• How personal health information is used and who has access to it.
• That digital health care will feel less personal.
• That digital health services will be difficult to use.
• Whether people have a choice around using digital health services.

The leaflet suggests questions people can ask to feel more reassured, presents examples of other people who have faced these concerns, and signposts people to further information or support.

Read more about the project and download the leaflet on the Good Things Foundation website here.

New video series answers questions about menopause

PIF member, The Menopause Charity, has launched a new Ask the Experts video series. The videos present evidence-based answers to the questions people most often ask about menopause and are delivered by trusted clinicians and members of the charity's Clinical Advisory Panel. 

Each short video offers professional guidance with warmth, empathy and understanding on topics ranging from symptoms and treatment options to how to start conversations at work or with family. The videos have been created in line with the charity's PIF TICK accreditation.

Find the Ask the Experts videos on The Menopause Charity website here.

Free apps available to tackle growing diabetes challenge

NHS Wales has invested in a licence for three innovative apps that support prevention of Type 2 diabetes for those at high risk and self-management for those already diagnosed. 

Recent figures released by Diabetes UK Cymru revealed 555,228 people in Wales – or one in five adults – currently have either diabetes or prediabetes. The apps are funded by Public Health Wales as part of the Tackling Diabetes Together Programme and complement a successful face-to-face programme that has helped more than 10,000 people. Anyone in Wales can download the apps at no cost by completing a simple online request form.

Find out more about the apps on the Public Health Wales website here.

Blog: The CQC is embarking on an ambitious journey

In this blog, Chris Day, the Director of Engagement at the Care Quality Commission (CQC), shares how the regulator has embarked on a journey to co-design a modern vision of regulation. Chris describes the journey as "one where feedback and collaboration is key, and mutual respect, and shared learning shape how we operate". 

Recent roadshows held in Manchester and London highlighted five clear messages, Chris says, including being transparent and accountable; consistency; feedback must be informed and meaningful; technology improvements; and the importance of relationships with inspection teams.

Read the blog in full on the CQC website here.

Survey explores social care support barriers

The Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) has published the results of a survey into experiences in accessing social care support. 

In early 2025, the ALLIANCE says it was informed that people with lived experience were facing new or increased barriers to accessing Self-directed Support (SDS). A small survey was designed asking members and the people they represent about their experiences. The responses revealed that:

• More than 6 in 10 of respondents had had their care packages being reassessed or reviewed.
• Nearly half had been subject to pre-determined decisions.
• More than 4 in 10 had faced cuts to their care packages.
• 1 in 5 were told there would be caps to payment amounts or support.
• Over a third said they had experienced a combination or all of the issues.

Find out more about the survey results on the ALLIANCE website here.

National maternity investigation to drive urgent improvements

A rapid national investigation into NHS maternity and neonatal services will urgently look at worst-performing services in the country. 

The investigation has been ordered by Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, to address systemic problems dating back over 15 years. Co-produced with clinicians, experts and parents, the investigation aims to provide truth and accountability for impacted families and drive urgent improvements to care and safety. 

The findings of past reviews will also be brought into one clear national set of actions to ensure every woman and baby receives safe, high-quality and compassionate care. 

Read more about the investigation on the GOV.UK website here.