Patient experience report: residents of South Asian heritage in Old Trafford

Healthwatch Trafford undertook engagement with the local South Asian community.  They spoke to 60 people.

Analysis of these patient experiences allowed Healthwatch Trafford to identify several issues distinctive to local residents of South Asian heritage including: 

• Lack of cultural awareness within GP and hospital services. One example given was lack of recognition of the Islamic principle that a person must be buried as quickly as possible after death. 
• Lack of cultural diversity amongst GP practice staff 
• Female residents, (over the age of 50 years), in Old Trafford registered at the same GP Practice found access to a female GP with shared cultural heritage and language and an understanding of their needs and belief systems difficult. 
• Several female residents reported waiting times of 3 - 4 weeks for appointments with the only female GP at their practice who speaks their language. This suggests that qualified language translators are not used or offered during medical appointments at this GP Practice. 
• Automated telephone messages in English at GP Surgeries create access difficulties for patients for whom English is not their main language / don’t speak English well.