Speeches by Smyth.

“Schedule 9 agreed to.”

“Clause 65”

“Abolition of arrangements with Local Healthwatch organisations”

“On resuming—”

“The existing complaints regulations allow people to make a formal complaint to providers of services or to a commissioner of services, and ultimately to the appropriate ombudsman. Healthwatch has no statutory role in relation to complaints, so the abolition of Healthwatch services will therefore not affect the complain…”

“Finally, following its passage, we will undertake an evaluation of the Bill to provide objective and robust evidence for both learning and accountability. The learning element will feed directly into the development of services and the creation of an evidence base, and the accountability element will support further de…”

“Question put, That the clause stand part of the Bill.”

“At a national level, as part of the regulatory function of local authority adult social care commissioning, the CQC will also look at whether the statutory functions of local authorities are being met. Additionally, the Secretary of State will have a new power to direct ICBs on the exercise of their functions if that i…”

“My hon. Friend the Member for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket spoke to new clause 74, which was tabled by my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby. That new clause raises some important issues around transparency, which I am passionate about and have often spoken about. The new patient experience directorate within the refor…”

“”

“To ensure that these new arrangements are a success, effective oversight and transparency will be critical. That is already a key consideration in establishing the patient experience directorate, and the Bill includes additional key safeguards. First, integrated care boards will be required to publish an annual stateme…”

“Clause 64 ordered to stand part of the Bill.”

“The creation of the new patient experience directorate does not need legislation. However, the requirements in the Bill for the Secretary of State to oversee and have the ability to issue guidance to ICBs and local authorities on best practice for obtaining user views will ensure that the Department plays a central rol…”

“I know that some across the House and the Committee are worried that the abolition of Healthwatch England could weaken the patient and user voice. I cannot stress more clearly that that is absolutely not our intent. Our intent is the exact opposite. We want to make feedback easier to give and, crucially, harder to igno…”

“That will lead to a step change in how the Department considers patient experience as an ongoing part of national policymaking. We will appoint a director of patient experience within the Department, who will be responsible for overseeing a more coherent approach. That will include stronger national surveys to collect …”

“I remind hon. Members that there is no shortage of independent outside scrutiny of Government and the NHS, from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to the Patient Safety Commissioner, now sitting within the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, along with a wide number of voluntary, community …”

“Clause 59 ordered to stand part of the Bill.”

“Taken together, the clause and schedule provide for the abolition of Healthwatch England, which is a step that we are not taking lightly. I want to pay tribute to everybody involved in this work. In some areas, Healthwatch has played a really important role in amplifying the experiences of patients, families and carers…”

“Currently, local authorities are responsible for commissioning local healthwatches and deciding how best to deploy resources locally. This means that setting a fixed national funding level in legislation would not guarantee an increase in what the local healthwatch ultimately receives. It would remain up to local autho…”

“The arrangements we have divorce those listening to patients from those with the power to make change. The patient voice was left on the outside lobbying in, too far from where local commissioning and national policymaking decisions take place. As set out in the 10-year health plan, we are simplifying the landscape so …”