FAQs
We are here to listen but if you have a question that you think other people have already asked, have a look here first.
Is Healthwatch part of the NHS?
No Healthwatch is not part of the NHS. We are commissioned and accountable to our local authority (Derby City Council) and we work closely alongside the NHS, DCC, and service commissioners to ensure that patient voices are heard (often anonymously) in service improvement discussions, but we are an independent body.
Is local Healthwatch accountable to Healthwatch England?
No, we are accountable to Derby City Council. We do however pass on key themes and trends from our data to Healthwatch England in order to improve national service provision where many concerns or inequalities have been raised by our local population. Healthwatch England publish our reports in their Reports Library which is available for the public to access. This can be accessed here: https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/reports-library
What will happen to Local Involvement Networks (LINks)?
Local Involvement Networks will be incorporated into Healthwatch.
Who do I contact if I am not in Derby City?
If you live in or use Derby City health and social care services, we would love to hear from you! We are aware that there can often be a cross over between services if you live or work across county borders, and so our bordering healthwatch branches would be the best people to speak to.