The public’s perspective: The state of health & social care
Healthwatch England report examining ten key areas of care, including GPs, dentists, hospitals, and social care. It is based on more than 65 thousand experiences recorded from all local Healthwatch organisations across the country – including from us here at Healthwatch in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay. It also includes recommendations and potential solutions for the NHSE, commissioners and service providers.
Key findings from Healthwatch England
- People who are more financially comfortable were much more likely to be able to access free or discounted private GP appointments through their work than those who were less financially comfortable.
- People in better jobs/financial positions were much more likely to access health-related workplace perks and healthy living perks.
- Some, particularly young people, were advised to consider paying for private care by NHS staff.
Key Recommendations from Healthwatch England
Improve access for the most vulnerable by ensuring that:
- Commissioners and providers take all opportunities to provide early or ongoing support through additional staff roles, including mental health practitioners, peer support workers, and school-based teams.
- The NHS covers transport and accommodation costs where patients choose to travel for quicker treatment at another setting
- Better signposting to support services, including voluntary organisations and services that support unpaid carers.
Improve patient communications by ensuring that:
- There are improvements to online referral trackers, so people waiting for care know what is happening with their care.
- More proactive NHS communications with patients while they wait for treatment.
- Single points of contact, either in person, over the phone, or via the NHS app, so patients waiting for care can give feedback about issues or changes in their condition.
Downloads
File download
The public’s perspective: The state of health & social care
