Real voices, real impact: April to June 2026

Healthwatch Wakefield produced this quarterly impact report to highlight what local people shared about their experiences of health and social care services between April and June 2026. During the period, Healthwatch received 166 pieces of feedback and engaged with residents through community events, panels, meetings and its complaints advocacy service. The report identified four key themes: access to GP services, digital exclusion, poor coordination between services, and the importance of person-centred care. 

The strongest concerns related to difficulties accessing GP appointments, long waits for follow-up care, problems using digital booking systems and challenges navigating fragmented services. People also described the value of continuity of care and highlighted how poor communication between organisations often left patients having to coordinate their own care. Feedback showed that while digital services worked well for some, others, particularly older people and those with disabilities, felt excluded.

Alongside these concerns, the report highlighted many examples of positive care, including professionals who listened, communicated clearly and treated people with compassion. Healthwatch also provided extensive advice, signposting and advocacy support, helping people access services, raise concerns and secure improvements to their care. Case studies demonstrated how individual feedback led to practical changes, including improvements to GP home visit processes and increased awareness of bereavement and mental health support services. 

Overall, the report demonstrates how individual experiences are being used to influence local decision-making and drive service improvements across Wakefield District. Healthwatch continued to share feedback with NHS and social care partners, helping to inform action on issues such as hospital discharge, medication safety, primary care access and patient experience.