Engagement summary overview

Healthwatch Bristol engagements were specifically planned in relation to and based on the Healthwatch Bristol Quarter 2 theme “Long Term Conditions” which took place between July 2017 to September 2017.

Healthwatch Bristol used a series of resources to capture the views and experiences of the people they engaged with in relation to health and social care services, ranging from primary care, secondary care and local authorities social care services.

A total of 32 comments were collated from the three engagement sessions regarding primary care and secondary care. The general consensus of the data analysed was positive. The main themes Identified from the comments were:

Access to Services Administration: Provider suitability, waiting times for referrals and appointments were highlighted as a major issues by patients. The lack of specialised services were also identified as a significant problem due to patient needs not being met.

Diagnosis/Assessment: Patients highlighted general issues around diagnoses and their frustration with the poor service received when attempting to obtain diagnostic and test results from their GPs.

Treatment and Care: A large per cent of the comments received reflected positive sentiments, which was generally around the quality of care they received. The majority of these groups highlighted their satisfaction with the way in which they were treated in relation to the experience and having their treatment explained in a way that could have understood, specifically with younger children. There was a few commentators who felt unhappy with the treatment and care they received and felt that there was room for improvement.

Dignity and Respect/ Staff and Staff attitude: A small percentage of the comments received reflect a lack of dignity and respect / compassion by health care professionals for not listening to patient’s needs and feeling that their voice was not heard.

There were no recommendations added to the report, but Healthwatch Bristol informed they were discussing findings with the service providers around longer term solutions.