In light of the decision to abolish Healthwatch England and its 153 local branches, as announced as part of the government’s 2025 Ten Year Plan for Health, we reflect on the legacy of patient voice organisations in the NHS in England. These have taken different formats over the past 50 years, but have been a consistent feature of the health service during this time.  

Reviewing the different formats that patient voice organisations have taken over this period, we conclude that to be successful, organisations need to be independent, have appropriate statutory rights and powers, be well-resourced, and work at both a national and local level.  

Strong foundations alone are not the only route to success, however. Delivering a truly person centred health service requires the above conditions, coupled with strong leadership to model and drive cultural change. Person centred care and improving patient experience must be embedded at all levels to prevent it becoming an afterthought when operational and financial challenges arise.  

As the decision to abolish the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH) and Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Forums shows, there are significant risks to scrapping a model without a clear vision of what will follow.  

With the Health Bill progressing through parliament, there is a need for clarity on what model will replace Healthwatch – and particularly on how independence will be safeguarded. Clarity is also needed on the Directorate of Patient Experience within the Department of Health and Social Care, including its role, remit and governance structure.