Community insights on locality hubs
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Healthwatch Waltham Forest undertook research to provide insights into the design and implementation of a local health hub based on feedback from residents of Waltham Forest. The focus on long-term conditions (LTCs) stems from their significant impact on individual health outcomes and healthcare resource allocation. These conditions contribute to a substantial disease burden, highlighting the need for accessible, holistic, and person-centred care. They surveyed 231 people.
The main conditions that people had were cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal problems and mental health.
The main challenges they experienced were:
- long waits to get appointments
- Services not talking to each other
- a lack of access to services
- Waiting a long time for a referral
- Limited availability of specialists
The top priority for services to be included in a local health hub were general healthcare services, followed closely by mental health support and preventive care.
People most wanted a health hub to be in a convenient location and have flexible working hours.
When asked how they would prefer to use a health hub, 34% of respondents favoured a single visit where multiple services are available. However, 25% preferred multiple scheduled visits, while 24% opted for the quickest option, highlighting a diversity of needs.
The most significant barriers to accessing women’s health services include long waiting times, limited availability of female healthcare providers, and inadequate access to specialised care. A women's health hub should include preventative screening, menopause management and wellness programmes.
Regular screenings, flexible appointment times, and reproductive health services are top priorities for a Women’s Health Hub. The data underscores the importance of offering accessible, timely and inclusive services.