Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many local authorities have established service user forums under the provisions of the Care Act 2014.

Following the introduction of the Health and Social Care Act 2012, every local authority has a statutory duty to commission a local Healthwatch service. There are 152 local Healthwatch services in England.

They are independent organisations based in local communities, working with other services to understand people’s health and social care experiences. By listening to local consumers and making sure that their opinions are shared with those who plan and run health and social care services, it allows local communities to help shape the care they receive.