Training
The complexities of the health service are such that proper training must be available to the leadership of Local Healthwatch as well as, when the occasion arises, expert advice.
- The government's response to the Francis Report in "Hard Truths" (Cm 8777, November 2013) acknowledged the need for Local Healthwatch to have access to training and expert advice. The government stated that Healthwatch England would have a role in supporting the development of Local Healthwatch capacity and capability (Hard Truths, DHSC, November 2013).
- Healthwatch England has reported that Local Healthwatch organisations face challenges in securing specialist training and expert advice, particularly in areas such as understanding complex healthcare commissioning, clinical quality indicators, and regulatory frameworks. Healthwatch England's annual reports have noted that smaller Local Healthwatch organisations with limited budgets face particular challenges in accessing training (Healthwatch England annual reports).
- No published evidence has been identified of a dedicated national training programme specifically designed for Local Healthwatch leaders covering the complexities of the health service, as distinct from the general support and guidance provided by Healthwatch England through its network support function.
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedThe government published "Hard Truths: the Journey to Putting Patients First" (Cm 8777) on 19 November 2013, responding to all 290 recommendations of the Francis Report. This followed an initial response "Patients First and Foremost" in March 2013. Key reforms included a new Chief Inspector of Hospitals, strengthened Care Quality Commission inspection regime, a statutory duty of candour, and the fit and proper person test for NHS directors. Volume 2 (Cm 8754) contains the government's detailed responses to each of the 290 recommendations. See: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7cd486ed915d63cc65d167/34658_Cm_8777_Vol_1_accessible.pdf
Published Evidence
Published assessments of progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Source type badge indicates whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
Research published 2023 marking ten years since the Francis Report found mixed results. Structural and legislative changes largely delivered (duty of candour, FPPR, CQC overhaul, revalidation, Freedom to Speak Up Guardians). However, cultural change not fully embedded; understaffing, fear of speaking up, and poor complaint handling persist in parts of the NHS.
Government published "Culture Change in the NHS" (Cm 9009) reporting progress on all 290 recommendations. Key achievements: 19 hospitals placed in special measures; those trusts recruited 109 additional doctors and 1,805 additional nurses; 129 board-level changes made; excess avoidable deaths fell by 450 in less than a year.
Government published "Hard Truths: The Journey to Putting Patients First" (Cm 8777) in two volumes. Vol 1 set out new actions; Vol 2 provided detailed response to each of the 290 recommendations. Approximately 204 of 290 recommendations were fully accepted.