Eastbourne Listening Tour 2022 - Eastbourne Food Bank
Download (PDF 489.37 KB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch East Sussex spoke to Eastbourne Food Bank users as part of their 2022 Listening Tour. They spoke to 24 people.
The most common issues they heard about were access to GPs and access to dentist.
As a result of the cost of living increase, nearly four in five respondents feel anxious about the future more often. Nearly three in five respondents have good quality sleep lest often. Over half are eating fruit and vegetables less often. Nearly half feel lonely more often.
People wanted to try to help themselves and maintain good health and wellbeing, but they are struggling due to the current cost of living situation, as well as the difficulties with accessing services, which is clearly impacting on their mental health and wellbeing.
They spoke about the impact of the Cost-of-Living crisis, with one person saying she was unable to buy herself a winter coat as she needs to feed her children, even though she works part time as a dental hygiene nurse. Engaging with people accessing the Food Bank really highlighted how the cost-of-living crisis is having a disproportionate, and severe impact on those on low incomes. Others were clearly distressed that their health and wellbeing (including financial situation) had deteriorated rapidly over the past 9 months and expressed how this was impacting negatively on their mental health.
People wanted improved GP and dentist services.
The report has six recommendations.