Being healthy: Ideas and reflections from Scarborough

To get the views of people in Scarborough, Healthwatch North Yorkshire worked with SeeCHANGE to get a broad view of people’s views of good health, their experience of keeping themselves healthy and their interactions with health services. They wanted to understand what people felt could help support them to be healthier and be able to do those things that they identified as the benefits of good health. They received 220 valid responses to our survey.

GP services, NHS dentists, delayed treatment and services moving away from Scarborough have been highlighted as some of the top priority issues.  

It is clear that health is important to the people of Scarborough and many would like to be healthier if possible.  Lack of time, lack of motivation, lack of help with other life stressors and lack of specialist support for people with health conditions/ disabilities appear to be some of the main barriers to people being healthier.

A large majority of people are already taking action to try to be healthier but would like more support regarding this, from cheaper and more inclusive exercise options to increased accessibility and awareness of services.