Annual Report, 2025-26

Headlines by Rebecca Amin, Healthwatch Harrow Chair:

I am pleased to present Healthwatch Harrow’s Annual Report for 2025/26. Our dedicated team, volunteers, and ambassadors have unwaveringly represented and supported Harrow residents, ensuring local voices remain central at a time of continued pressure on the NHS and social care system. 

Our reach and impact 

This year, Healthwatch Harrow reached 4,500 local people. We now have 945 active stakeholders in our database. We’ve published 35 reports and issued six newsletters viewed by more than 900 people. Our diverse communities face evolving challenges, from accessing primary care to navigating mental health and social support. Thanks to your willingness to share your experiences, we have been able to bridge the gap between residents and decision-makers, ensuring local needs are heard at the highest levels. 

Championing local voices 

Throughout 2025 and in 2026, our primary focus has been ensuring that the voices of Harrow residents remain at the heart of local decision making, particularly as the Harrow Borough Based Partnership and the Integrated Care System adapt to ongoing national structural changes. We gathered residents’ experiences of GP surgeries, Northwick Park Hospital, the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, and dentists. We evidenced areas of best practice and highlighted areas where residents call for improvement. We spoke with young people about the factors that impact their mental health and wellbeing along with their experiences of accessing services. 

Looking ahead 

Healthwatch Harrow would not be possible without our volunteers, staff, and the public who share their experiences. While we look back on a year of substantial progress, our work is far from finished. As the health and care landscape continues to evolve, we remain committed to being an independent voice that will hold local services to account. We will support calls for improvement, and champion fairness, accessibility, and high-quality care for every resident in Harrow.