The impact of waiting for NHS surgery in Somerset
Download (PDF 1.39 MB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Somerset carried out an online survey to record people’s experiences of waiting for elective surgery. The survey ran from 26 July to 19 September 2021 and engaged 72 members of the public.
This research was carried out with direction from the Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group (SCCG) to help inform the SCCG’s Quality and Safety Committee (QSC) of service user experiences.
Key findings:
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- 48 out of 72 people had been waiting over 40 weeks for their surgery
- Many people indicated a lack, or absence, of communication from their specialist during their wait
- A large proportion experienced one or more of the following due to waiting for surgery: 1) their condition had deteriorated; 2) their mobility had reduced during their wait, and this had impacted on their ability to carry out everyday tasks; 3) they had experienced changes in their daily mood
- 35 of 46 people relied on family and/or friends to help them manage daily tasks
- Many people did not know how much longer they would have to wait for their surgery
Recommendations outlined in the report include frequent communication and provision of information to all patients waiting for surgery; provision of information and useful advice for specific needs and contacts for external support; regular welfare checks; additional support for those with unpaid caring responsibilities and those being cared for by friends and family.