Healthwatch England
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is planning to take to ensure that patient safety is maintained during the transition period from Healthwatch England to his Department.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
The Government is prioritising patient safety and a learning culture in the National Health Service. In our 10-Year Health Plan we committed to abolish Healthwatch England and to bring patient voice ‘in-house’ to give it a greater profile within a reformed Department of Health and Social Care. During the implementation of this commitment, patient safety will remain of paramount importance. We will ensure arrangements are in place to ensure continuity of patient voice about matters including the safety of NHS services. This will include the continuation of existing channels such as the NHS complaints system, the Friends and Family Test, and the Care Quality Commission’s feedback on care function.
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