Local Healthwatch working together for change
Local Healthwatch across the region have been working together to make sure people’s voices and experiences are heard by those involved in making decisions about health and care services.
During 2025–2026, the Healthwatch North East and North Cumbria (NENC) network brought together insight from local communities to inform decision making across health and care.
Working as a coordinated network of 14 local Healthwatch, we supported the health and care system to understand what people experience in real life. What works, what doesn’t, and what needs to change.
The Working Together for Change report below gives an overview of the diverse work that our local Healthwatch network has been involved in throughout the year including:
- Primary care access: understanding what works and what doesn’t
- Winter care: helping people understand winter care and pharmacy options
- Shaping WorkWell: a new service designed to help people with long term health conditions stay in or return to work
- Listening on sensitive issues: palliative and end of life care
- Influencing national policy: developing NHS Online
- Workforce Voices: making national work more accessible
- Mental health rehabilitation: what helps people recover – and what puts them at risk
Read Healthwatch North East & North Cumbria: Working Together For Change
