Who do people talk to when they have a health concern?

In February 2023, Healthwatch Kent took to Maidstone town centre and spoke to people passing through the high streets and shopping malls.  They to find out who people talk to when they have a health concern, what makes people feel listened to when they talk to someone about a health concern, and what makes people feel safe when discussing their health concerns. They spoke to 73 people.

When the results were analysed, respondents fell into one of three groups:

1. People who would speak to a healthcare professional
2. People who would speak to peers
3. People who would do both

The first group cited the professionalism and trustworthiness of healthcare professionals as the reason why they would approach them for help.

Every experience shared by someone who said they would talk to a peer as opposed to a professional about a health concern shared positive experiences in doing so. Recurrent themes from this data show peoples positive experiences relate to people trusting their peers, having long-standing relationships which feel familiar and safe, not feeling judged, peers being able to empathise and understand what they are going through, and peers having enough time to listen.