Our Chair takes the local patient voice to a national audience on the Health on the Line podcast
Health on the Line is the NHS Alliance's podcast (previously run by the NHS Confederation), hosted by former BBC health correspondent Adam Brimelow. It's a well-known fixture in the health world, reaching NHS leaders, policymakers and stakeholders across the sector, so it was a real opportunity to put the local Healthwatch perspective front and centre.
Gita joined a panel alongside Lord Philip Hunt of Kings Heath and Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive of The King's Fund, for a discussion on the future of Healthwatch and the Health Bill. Speaking as the voice of a local Healthwatch, Gita set out why independent, community-rooted patient voice matters — drawing on real examples of the difference it makes on the ground here in Redbridge. She was also honest about where Healthwatch can do better, and constructive and pragmatic about reform.
At a time when the future of local Healthwatch is under discussion nationally, getting the local perspective into that conversation matters — making sure the experiences of real people, in real communities, aren't lost in decisions made at a national level.
The episode also features an interview with the chair of NHS Online, the NHS's first digital-only provider, so there's plenty for anyone interested in the future of health and care to get their teeth into.
Have a listen: the episode is available on the NHS Alliance website and on Spotify: https://thenhsalliance.org/health-on-the-line or you can watch below.
