Engagement with service users of North Bristol Trust's A&E department
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Healthwatch Bristol, Healthwatch North Somerset and Healthwatch South Gloucestershire were asked by North Bristol Trust to carry out a survey with people attending A&E at Southmead Hospital during the second winter of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Their aim was to understand more about what people found helpful or unhelpful when attending A&E, hear about what had informed their decision making, and hear their reaction to remodelling plans for the walk-in reception and waiting area. This survey was carried out during November and December 2021. 101 people completed the survey.
They found that:
- People had a good experience of healthcare services at A&E overall and many praised staff
- Two thirds had contacted a health provider such as a GP or call 111 prior to that day's attendance. Over 35 comments related to access to a GP; waits for an appointment, not getting through by phone, not wishing to try calling due to previous experiences with unhelpful staff or very long waits to get through
- A quarter of those attending had a long-term-condition. Many mentioned poor care coordination
- Two in five were attending with an issue that a care provider had treated before.
- There was a mixed response to proposed waiting room and reception changes at Southmead A&E