The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has stepped forward to defend the future of Healthwatch across Greater Manchester and nationally, warning that dismantling independent public voice structures would be a serious mistake at a time when public trust, lived experience, and community involvement are more vital than ever.
In a joint letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting MP, Andy Burnham and Sir Richard Leese (co-chairs of the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership Board) set out Greater Manchester’s strong opposition to proposals to absorb Healthwatch into Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and Local Authorities, proposals outlined in the draft NHS 10 Year Plan.
Recognising the value of Healthwatch in Greater Manchester
The letter, dated 14 November 2025, praises the ten local Healthwatch organisations across Greater Manchester and the Healthwatch in Greater Manchester network for their impartiality, deep relationships with communities, and role in bringing lived experience into system improvement.
“Healthwatch organisations across our ten localities have built trusted relationships with communities, local authorities, NHS providers, and the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector. They are uniquely positioned to act as a bridge between people and the system, offering insight that is grounded in lived experience. People speak to Healthwatch because they are outside the system – they are impartial, trusted, and provide a safe space for concerns to be shared.“
What happens next in Greater Manchester?
The Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership Board has committed to working with Healthwatch across Greater Manchester to finding a way to maintain independence, strengthen local working, and keep public voice embedded across the system. This includes five key principals:
- The independent public voice will be maintained, integrated and embedded effectively in the new system.
- Localised relationships will be maintained and strengthened in structures
- Local, place-based working will remain at the heart of how we work together
- We will embed population health principles as we continue to work closely with leaders across the localities and city region.
- We will ensure that the system is accessible for all, and that all of our communities are heard.
The message is clear
Greater Manchester Leaders are standing up for independent public voice, and expects national leaders to do the same. HW in GM will continue to bring insight, challenge, and the voices of people across our region into the heart of decision making.
Read the letter here.
If you would like to share experiences, get information or support, or learn more about the work of Healthwatch in communities across Greater Manchester, you can find you local Healthwatch here.
If you have any questions for Healthwatch in Greater Manchester, please get in touch with us directly here.