The chairman of an Enfield health watchdog has joined a national committee set up to improve social care.

Deborah Fowler, who chairs patients' group Healthwatch Enfield, has been appointed to the national Healthwatch England committee to help represent patients'views at a national level.

Launched in October last year, the watchdog works with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to scrutinise health services in the borough.

Ms Fowler believes that this will help improve Enfield services as well as on a national level.

She said: “As the board member responsible for liaising with local Healthwatch in London, I’m looking forward to learning more about the range of Healthwatch groups across London, their challenges, successes, how they see their role developing, and what part their link with Healthwatch England could play in that.

“Joining Healthwatch England is a real opportunity to be involved in the development of an effective national champion for all of us who use health and social care services, so it complements very well what we’re doing in Enfield. I think it’s also a feather in the cap of Healthwatch Enfield that I’m being asked to act as the liaison point between local Healthwatch boards in London and the board of Healthwatch England.”

Anna Bradley, chairman of Healthwatch England, said: “Deborah has been doing great work with Healthwatch Enfield, giving local people a strong voice in how their health and social care services are designed and delivered.

“She brings with her a wealth of experience from the health and regulatory sectors and will be huge asset to the Healthwatch England committee, helping to drive change at a national level.”