Hope over experience?
Penny Dash’s review of patient safety in England has recommended sweeping changes to the way things are currently organised, but while few would disagree that changes are much needed, the review also raises important questions.
Sarah Clark
Research Communications Manager
21 July 2025
With Healthwatch England, local Healthwatch and the National Guardian’s Office being disbanded, there will no longer be independent organisations leading work around enabling staff to speak up and “listening to patients and users effectively.” Failure to listen to staff and patient voices has been implicated in major safety and quality failings, so how will disbanding these organisations impact staff and patients’ willingness to speak up in the future?
In their BMJ editorial, THIS Directors of Research Graham Martin and Jane O’ Hara discuss some of the issues raised by the Dash review and what they could mean for patient safety.