There are local Healthwatch organisations in every council area in England. How do they work to promote public and patient voice in health and care? In this episode, we talk to Michelle Thompson, CEO of Healthwatch Darlington. We discuss the funding and staffing challenges facing local Healthwatch and also get an insight into how local Healthwatch changed the way it worked during the COVID-19 pandemic so that it could continue communicating with the communities and partners it serves.