Final Healthwatch Round Up - March 2026

A Final Message from Healthwatch Stockport: Thank You for Being Part of Our Journey

Over the past 13 years as Healthwatch Stockport — and for four years before that as part of the Local Involvement Network (LINk) — we have had the privilege of working alongside local people, partners, and communities to ensure that the voices of those using health and care services are heard.

In July, the Government announced its intention to close Healthwatch nationally as part of the new NHS 10-Year Plan.

Following this announcement, we took time to reflect on the proposals and what they would mean for the future. It is therefore with a heavy heart that we confirmed our decision to close our doors on 31 March 2026.

Throughout our time as Healthwatch Stockport, we have worked alongside many of you to help support and amplify the voices of people and communities who use health and care services. Our shared values and collaborative approach have been central to everything we have achieved together in improving health and care services.

We are proud to have been part of a community that works tirelessly for inclusion and positive change, and we hope that we leave a legacy — ensuring that Stockport’s voice remains at the heart of future health and care improvements.

Over the years, thousands of local people have shared their experiences with us — helping to shape research, inform decision-making, and influence improvements across health and care services in Stockport. Although Healthwatch Stockport is now coming to the end of its journey in its current form, the voices, insights and partnerships built over the years will continue to shape conversations about health and care in our community.

What happens next?

In our final months and weeks, we have been winding down our communications while continuing to complete outstanding work programmes, commitments and health and care enquiries. We want to go out as we have always worked — with you and your health and wellbeing at the heart of everything we strive to do.

As Healthwatch is a statutory organisation with health and care responsibilities, the council still has an obligation to ensure some of these statutory functions continue until the legislation is formally changed.

They will over the coming weeks be communicating plans on how Healthwatch statutory functions in Stockport will be covered and by whom.

As we approach the end of our journey, we would like to express our sincere thanks for your contribution to making Healthwatch Stockport such a valued organisation — whether as a colleague, member, stakeholder, volunteer, or part of one of Stockport’s many communities.

We also want to recognise the dedication of our volunteers, whose time, insight, and commitment have helped ensure that local people’s experiences of health and care services are heard and acted upon.

Quite simply, we could not have achieved everything we have without you.

Thank you,

The Healthwatch Stockport Team

Our Final Healthwatch Stockport Round Up

As mentioned above, we've now produced our very last Information Round Up. We want to thank each and everyone of our readers and thank those who've continued to contribute and share information with us and support our ongoing work. 

We have so enjoyed hearing about what's happening across Stockport and the wider Greater Manchester community; distributing Healthwatch focused updates and advice as well as your local news, events, training, which in turn has helped to promote better health and wellbeing. 

Closure of our Healthwatch Stockport Services

Information & Advice Service: Due to closure of the organisation we can no longer offer information and advice, or deal with new enquiries. To receive support with your enquiry please contact Stockport Support Hub by visiting:

 www.stockportsupport.com/ 

0161 474 1042

Please do not leave a message as the voicemail box is not monitored.

Work programmes, events and partnerships: We are now unable to take on new pieces of work, engagement activity, partnership requests or respond to general enquiries. We are asking all organisations to remove our contact details from your distribution and circulation lists. 

It has been a privilege to work alongside residents, volunteers, voluntary organisations and partners across Stockport’s health and care system. We are proud of what has been achieved together and grateful for the relationships built and your support over the years.

Healthwatch Stockport Farewell Celebration

A few weeks ago, we invited current and former Healthwatch Stockport employees, members and those we've partnered closely with over the years to our Farewell Event. We wanted to simply express our sincere thanks for the partnerships, support, and constructive relationships we've developed together over the years, and celebrate all that we have all achieved.

We've included just some of the photos of the day. 

Healthwatch Research, Articles & Advice You May Have Missed

As a reminder, please see the latest reports, news, advice and support articles from us and Healthwatch England.

New Report - The state of health and social care in 2026

Healthwatch England's new report shows that many people are struggling to get timely appointments, referrals, treatment and support from the NHS. Leading to low confidence and more people turning to private healthcare. The report aims to show what care feels like for the people using it, and make recommendations to fix what isn’t working

The report draws on the 390,000 experiences heard between October 2023 and September 2025. It combines these with external data to explore ten areas of care that people talk to Healthwatch about the most. And while each one faces individual issues, key themes emerge over and over.

Read the new report

Healthwatch England's response to NHS England's letter on corridor care

What do women want from health services?

As the government prepares to refresh the Women Health’s Strategy, Healthwatch England share new findings on women’s top priorities. Women make up just over half of the population, and across their lives most will need support for female-related conditions, such as heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, or peri- and menopausal symptoms. They will also be regularly invited over four decades for cervical screening and, in later life, for breast screening. Yet too many say that accessing the right support is harder than it should be.

NHS Greater Manchester is running a short survey to learn more about people whose shoulder pain hasn’t resolved with conventional treatment and may need further clinical care.

They are especially keen to hear from people who injured their shoulder:

• Through sport or exercise (e.g. rugby, martial arts, gym training)

• Through manual or repetitive work (e.g. plastering, construction, trade work)

If that sounds like you, they’d appreciate you taking a few minutes to complete the survey

Further Events & Community Activities across the Borough

This is a part‑time position of 15 hours per week over 2 days, offered on a 2‑year fixed‑term contract, with the possibility of extension depending on funding. Salary: £26,403 pro rata

Main Purpose of the Role

To coordinate transport requests in line with Stockport Car Scheme guidelines, support volunteer drivers, maintain accurate administrative and financial records, and contribute to the effective running of the Scheme through high‑quality office and communication support.

See the full job description here