"Reasonable Adjustments Accessing and using GP services in Newcastle "

Healthwatch Newcastle undertook research into the experiences of autistic people and people with a learning disability accessing and using GP services in Newcastle. Between December 2022 and March 2023, 84 people responded to their survey. In addition, 9 GP Practice Managers shared information about their processes and capacity to make reasonable adjustments.

• Generally, where reasonable adjustments were made, patients felt more understood by their GP practice. However, improvements were required to help with patient understanding of language and their levels of comfort while visiting their GP, both while waiting for the appointment and once in the consulting room.

• Although different methods were used by GP practices to raise awareness of reasonable adjustments, patient awareness was poor among all diagnoses.

• Respondents indicated that they particularly wanted reasonable adjustments in three areas which included Communication & Interaction, Access to Services, and Changes to the Physical Environment.

• Although most of the respondents reported that they wanted reasonable adjustments, only around half had actually requested them. Respondents highlighted barriers that deterred them from asking for reasonable adjustments which included personal issues around communication. They expressed their worries around staff attitudes and empathy.

The report contains recommendations around raising awareness, reaching out to autistic patients and patients with a learning disability, and clearly communicate when it is not possible to make reasonable adjustments.

The report has been shared with the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board and contains their response to the recommendations.