Healthwatch Somerset

What Healthwatch Somerset does

Healthwatch Somerset is the statutory local independent champion for people who use health and social care services in the county of Somerset, England, established in 2013 under the Health and Social Care Act 2012. Its core function is to collect, aggregate, and represent public feedback on health and social care services — including GP surgeries, dentists, pharmacies, hospitals, and social care provision — and to feed that intelligence into commissioners, providers, and national bodies such as Healthwatch England and the Care Quality Commission. In 2024-25, the organization recorded 5,094 residents sharing experiences and 1,364 receiving information and advice, gathered through its website, a free telephone helpline (0800 999 1286), community roadshows, and ongoing presence at libraries and local events across Taunton, Yeovil, Wells, Bridgwater, and Burnham-on-Sea.

The service portfolio centers on a 'Have Your Say' feedback platform (incorporating surveys and polls, including a People's Vote initiative), an NHS Complaints Advocacy service delivered in partnership with South West Advocacy Network, a Find Services directory, and published news and reports. The digital estate uses standard consumer web technologies (the site is built on Wix) with WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility tools; no proprietary technology, APIs, SDKs, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed or evident. Specialized engagement streams target young carers, people with learning disabilities (via Mencap's 'I'm In' campaign), and migrant communities.

The organization operates as a commissioned statutory body and is hosted by The Advocacy People, an independent charity (Charity No. 1080679) limited by guarantee. It is funded via a single commissioning relationship with Somerset Council, with services provided free to the public. There are no external private equity or venture capital investors, no funding rounds, and no acquisitions. Strategic positioning is shaped entirely by the statutory framework, with growth dependent on local authority commissioning decisions and the evolving Somerset Integrated Care System agenda.

Name

Healthwatch Somerset

Legal name

The Advocacy People

Website

https://healthwatchsomerset.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Healthwatch Somerset is the statutory local independent champion collecting and representing Somerset residents' feedback on health and social care services, operating since 2013 under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and hosted by The Advocacy People charity.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health Advocacy Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (62419)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Health & Health Equity Organizations (BPAGACAL)

Keywords

• Health advocacy services
• Social care feedback
• NHS complaints advocacy
• Patient engagement programs
• Community health advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Bridgwater

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Statutory Funding: Healthwatch Somerset is commissioned by Somerset Council to fulfill its statutory role as the local independent champion for people who use health and social care services. The service is provided free to the public.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Healthwatch Somerset is an independent local statutory body that collects feedback from Somerset residents about health and social care services, advocates for service improvements with NHS and council commissioners, and provides free, confidential NHS complaints advocacy support to individuals. It is part of the national Healthwatch network established under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and is locally commissioned by Somerset Council.

Product overview

Healthwatch Somerset operates as a community health and social care advocacy organization rather than a technology product company. Its core offering is a service portfolio centered on gathering public feedback about local health and care services through its 'Have Your Say' platform, which includes surveys, polls, and the 'People's Vote' initiative. This is complemented by NHS Complaints Advocacy (provided in partnership with South West Advocacy Network), a news and reports publishing function, a Find Services directory, and General Advice resources including Easy Read formats. The organization also provides digital accessibility tools to support users with a wide range of accessibility requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,094 people shared experiences in 2024-25, helping raise awareness of issues and improve care
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• The Advocacy PeoplecoreOthersThe Advocacy People is the host organization that provides Healthwatch Somerset services. They manage recruitment, HR, data protection, and operational support. The Advocacy People is an independent charity (Charity No. 1080679) limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales with Company No. 3963421.
• Healthwatch EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthwatch England is required to share information with local Healthwatch and receives anonymized data from Healthwatch Somerset. They analyze service provision across the country and supply the Department of Health and national commissioners with information. Healthwatch England is a committee of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) but acts independently.
• Care Quality Commission (CQC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthwatch Somerset works with the CQC and shares information to help protect vulnerable people from abuse or harm. The CQC uses Healthwatch feedback to inform their inspection processes. CQC ratings help inform Healthwatch's work in highlighting good and poor services.
• Somerset NHS Foundation TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthwatch Somerset monitors and reports on NHS services including maternity services at Yeovil District Hospital. The organization shares public feedback to help the Trust improve services.
• South West Advocacy NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth West Advocacy Network is the provider of NHS Complaints Advocacy in Somerset. This is a statutory right providing free, independent, confidential support to help people resolve NHS complaints.
• Marie CurieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarie Curie's Hospital Companion Service has expanded to Yeovil Hospital, providing trained volunteers who offer a friendly presence, emotional support, and time to listen for people receiving end-of-life care.
• Somerset Integrated Care System (ICS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthwatch Somerset works with Somerset's Integrated Care System's Digital Data and Technology community on health data initiatives, gathering public input on sharing anonymous data for population health improvements.
• Without Borders Café (Charis)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting refugees and asylum seekers. Healthwatch Somerset visited to highlight the importance of welcoming spaces for people starting a new life in the UK.
• Home-Start West Somerset (Dad Club)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization providing support to dads in West Somerset. Healthwatch Somerset shares information about The Dad Club project offering friendly spaces for fathers to meet and support each other.
• MencapminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthwatch Somerset has signed up to support Mencap's 'I'm In' campaign encouraging people with learning disabilities to join their GP's learning disability register (LDR) to access free annual health checks from age 14.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/healthwatchsomerset
• Instagraminstagram.com/healthwatchsomerset

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Healthwatch Somerset