About us

Healthwatch is the new independent consumer champion created to gather and represent the views of the public. Healthwatch will play a role at both national and local level and will make sure that the views of the public and people who use services are taken into account.

You can download a transcript of this video below. If you need this information in a different format, please email enquiries@healthwatch.co.uk or call 03000 68 3000.

Take a look at the easy read guides below which helps explain the role of Healthwatch and what Healthwatch does:

We are Healthwatch- Easy Read 

Find the information you need- Easy Read

Share your story- Easy Read

We gather the views and experiences of local people and see what is good and what is not.
We tell providers what you think about their services.
We tell commissioners what you say about the services they are paying for.
We pass on our findings to the Care Quality Commission and Healthwatch England.
We have the power to Enter and View - to go and see for ourselves.

Every voice counts when it comes to shaping the future of health and social care, and when it comes to improving it for today. Everything that Healthwatch County Durham does brings the voice and influence of local people to the development and delivery of local services.
Healthwatch County Durham is friendly, accessible, approachable, practical, dynamic and acts on behalf of local people.
-We can help you to shape and improve the services you use.
-We can engage with people in your community & if you haven't met us yet, please get in touch!
-We are an open organisation and we will make it easy for you to talk to us
-We are inclusive and we want people from every part of your community to join us
-Ask us what we're doing and we'll always tell you what's happening.
-You can hold us to account
-We are here to help services to improve.
-We will notice the bad things they do, and the good
-We will use your evidence to build a true picture of your local services