IF it might help Mike Marshall’s letter last week feel a little more assured of the role of Healthwatch, could I share my experience?

Healthwatch Worcestershire was instrumental in supporting my profoundly disabled son in securing a new model of NHS care, which gives patients greater power and control over the support they receive.

This new way of delivering care will benefit many more people in Worcesteshire.

Healthwatch Worcestershire is all about patient power and giving us all a say in the future of the NHS.

This is particularly important at a time of significant change and financial pressure within the local authority and NHS.

My experience is that Healthwatch Worcestershire plays a vital role in ensuring the voices of patients and carers are heard loud and clear and critically, these public bodies are accountable and always act in the best interest of the people they are here to serve.

Healthwatch Worcestershire works tirelessly with patient bodies and carer organisations and is making a real difference to some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

I was heavily involved in the recent County Council Future Lives Consultation on significant budget cuts and service changes.

You could argue these proposals will have just as important impact and far-reaching consequences for service users and carers as the Acute Services Review, which attracted much media coverage and outraged many in our community.

The county council held more than 80 public events.

Healthwatch, to my knowledge, attended most of them, supporting carers and service users in a very practical way.

Their submitted report to cabinet was instrumental in the council committing a further £3 million to fund adult services and a commitment to involve community service groups in a partnership approach to how services can be configured in the future.

It is important we as a community get behind Healthwatch in the difficult times ahead but my experience of it is only one of support and caring. We would be misguided and essential health and care services would be at risk if we do not support Healthwatch Worcestershire.

David Johnston Owls End Brook Lane Himbleton