The Big Health Chat

This is a report by Healthwatch Bracknell Forest. For the project engagement events were held at various places across the local area. The intention was to hear from local people about their experiences.

At the engagement events two questions were asked:

1. What things would help to improve your health and wellbeing?

2. What could make your neighbourhood a happier and healthier place to live?

Healthwatch Bracknell Forest heard that health and care experiences are varied, but that there are common themes. Many people were positive about their environment and its effect on their health and wellbeing.

The top five common themes were:

• GPs 

• Community Services

• Support for unpaid carers

• Hospital Outpatients 

• Public Parks, recreation, wellbeing 

There are recommendations in this report:

GP Access:

Bracknell GP practices have access to cloud-based telephony systems and improved websites which should make contacting a practice easier for the patient. More needs to be done to communicate the capabilities of the new systems and monitor patient satisfaction. 

Triaging of patients to nurses or other medical professionals is possible when a GP appointment is not necessary. The government have set out the Primary Care Access recovery plan to improve access. Some initiatives are already underway, e.g. improving telephone systems so they are digital, this will enable patients to hear where they are in the queue and the option to leave a message and get a call back the same day. Other initiatives are in the pipeline e.g. being able to book more services via GP website. 

The government has said all patients should see their GP within 2 weeks depending on clinical need. Government press release May 2023. “If their need is urgent, they will be assessed and given appointments on the same day. If it is not urgent, appointments should be offered within 2 weeks, or patients will be referred to NHS 111 or a local pharmacy”. Communicating these changes so patients understand their options is important.

Community Services and Bracknell Forest Residents Information

Improved communications to residents to help people understand what community health and wellbeing services are available and how they can access them. Consideration should be given to those who are not digitally enabled. 

Healthwatch can support adding to their website, newsletter and social media communications. 

Carers Support:

Unpaid or family carers need a key contact at Bracknell Forest Council Adult Social Care so that they can quickly and easily speak to them about the cared for. Raising concerns and those concerns being heard and acted on may help carers to fulfil their role for longer. We note that there is a new draft Carers strategy in Bracknell Forest Council and a proposed new ‘single point of contact in Adult Social Care to make it quicker and easier for Carers to get to the right contact. The draft strategy at this point in time is due to go 

out for consultation. 

Parks and community spaces:

Suggest some communications from Bracknell Forest Local Authority and Police regarding, “E-Scooter Safety” 

Mental Health Support : 

The ‘One Team’ mental health transformation program should consider how they will ensure that nobody gets missed when calling for crisis support. Complaints about the service should always be acknowledged and acted upon.

There are follow up actions in this report. The office will share this report with Bracknell Forest Health and Wellbeing Board, Bracknell Forest Place Committee, Bracknell Forest Council and Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust.

The ICB has responded to the report.