News and reports

A national petition has been created in response to the government’s decision to abolish Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch.

Join us at Recovery College Collective for the Annual Joint Meeting of Healthwatch Newcastle and Healthwatch Gateshead on Tuesday the 16th of September (10am-1pm).

We’ll be closed on Monday 25th August for the bank holiday, and so will some local healthcare services.

We are hosting a Focus Group to find out what people think about WorkWell. Sign up and have your say!

Read our minutes from the Healthwatch Newcastle Committee Meeting on 21st May 2025.

Healthwatch Newcastle has joined the Open Letter below, delivered to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care from 131 individual local Healthwatch.

We are deeply saddened and disappointed by the government’s recent decision to close Healthwatch England and transfer the responsibilities of local Healthwatch (such as Healthwatch Newcastle) to NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and local authorities.

We will not know the full implications of the government’s proposals until we see the details within the NHS 10 year plan, the Penny Dash Review into Patient Safety and ultimately the legislation has been agreed and published by parliament.

Over the last year, Healthwatch Newcastle has been hard at work responding to local priorities and collaborating across the wider
Integrated Care Board (ICB) area, where Healthwatch are seen as vital partners. Download our latest Annual Report to find about more about all the work we've done to support local communities and help your voice to be heard.

Our 2025 Annual Survey received 297 responses, providing insights on a range of health and/or social care services.

Our report "Patient Experiences of Hospital Discharge Pathways 1-3 in Newcastle Hospitals" is now available.

Read our minutes from the Healthwatch Newcastle Committee Meeting on 19 March 2025.

Women across the North East and North Cumbria have had their say about NHS healthcare in the Big Conversation report, published on International Women's Day.