The Government has launched a consultation about how the funding to pay for the new areas of work that HealthWatch will take on from October 2012 should be allocated to local auhtorities. The funding will be transfered from the Department of Health to Local Councils who with have duty to make sure that an information /signposting service to help people find their way around NHS and social care services, and advocacy service for people making NHS complaints are in place. The consultation asks for comments on two methods of calculating the amounts of funding for each local area. Go to full details of the consultation on the Department of Health's website