Members of the public need to be more vocal in complaining about low standards in health and social care, the consumer champion for the sector has told MPs.

Issued today, Healthwatch England's first annual report contains new research which reveals 1 in 3 people have received first hand experience or know of someone who has suffered abuse or malpractice while being cared for.

Additionally, the findings show more than half of people who got a raw deal from care providers in the least three years did not report their grievances, because they lacked trust in health care providers to respond.

Moreover, the overwhelming majority of the public, 94%, believe the nation's health and care services require improvement.

Anna Bradley, chair of Healthwatch England – the body established under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 to champion care  users in 152 local healthwatches – said the report would help begin a national conversation around consumer rights in health and social care over the next year.

‘We all need to stop acting like grateful patients and care users, and start to see ourselves as savvy consumers, insisting on our right to safe, dignified and high quality care,' Ms Bradley said.

‘Over the next year, we will be testing this framework and where necessary use our statutory powers to make the politicians and policy makers listen and take action to empower all of us to speak our minds and ensure we get the services we need,' she added.

Care minister, Norman Lamb, said: ‘Without real and meaningful input from patients, it is impossible for health and care services to improve and move forward in the future.'