New funding confirmed for Local Healthwatch scheme

The government has pledged to allocate a funding boost of more than 3.5 million pounds to support the introduction of the Local Healthwatch scheme.

Between now and April 2013, local authorities will be setting up new regional health bodies to replace the Local Involvement Networks infrastructure, with 3.2 million pounds having been allocated for this.

Meanwhile, more than 370,000 pounds will also be made available to test out the role of Local Healthwatch, via the establishment of 75 Healthwatch Pathfinders before the end of the 2011/12 fiscal year.

The aim of the new programme is to provide patients, carers and members of the public with greater say over how local health services are run, thus increasing engagement with healthcare provision among communities.

Health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Today's announcement is a further sign of our commitment to support the dedicated staff and volunteers who are driving this forward."

This comes after the Department of Health last month allocated 91.6 billion to fund primary care trust activity for the coming year.