Leicester City and Leicestershire are two of the 75 Local HealthWatch pathfinders that have been established to champion patients' views and experiences to improve patient choice through advice and access to information.

Local HealthWatch pathfinders are being part of the Government's plans to modernise the NHS and will provide a collective voice for patients and carers.  They will also advise the new Clinical Commissioning Groups on the shape of local services to make sure that the views of the local community are taken into account.

The Local HealthWatch pathfinders will be fully established in October 2012.