The proposal to dissolve Healthwatch Oxfordshire has been withdrawn following opposition to the government’s wider plans for abolishing Healthwatch England.
The Oxfordshire watchdog will retain six members of staff, six volunteers and seven trustees.
It operates as an independent watchdog for health and social care and serves as the statutory champion for residents who live in Oxfordshire and use care services.
Feedback gathered by the organisation is used to recommend improvements to local services and to hold those services accountable.
Veronica Barry, executive director of Healthwatch Oxfordshire, welcomed the reversal and said the organisation could continue gathering views from local residents and ensuring those perspectives informed the development of health and care services.
She stressed the value of having a trusted, independent body available to residents who wish to share their experiences.
Support for retaining an independent voice in Oxfordshire has come from health and care organisations, councils, patient participation groups and community bodies, Ms Barry said.
She also credited the organisation’s employees, trustees and volunteers for remaining committed during months of uncertainty and for helping ensure local experiences continued to influence services.
Originally, the NHS Modernisation Bill contained provisions to remove the independent body and establish a patient experience directorate within the Department of Health and Social Care.
MPs opposed that approach, arguing it would place the NHS and government in a position to assess their own performance.
Health secretary Yvette Cooper said Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch organisations would both be retained.
The government intends to strengthen their role so that patient perspectives can shape meaningful changes across health and care services, with more consistent engagement to identify where improvements are needed in quality, safety and the patient experience.