Enter and view: Wroughton and Swindon NHS health centres

Healthwatch Swindon conducted an enter and view visit on Swindon NHS health centre and Wroughton health centre on the 11th and 12th of October 2017. These centres are both multi-purpose, including GP practices.

The visits were arranged to find out more about the range of services provided at both health centres, to compare the experience of users, patients and staff at both centres and to make practical recommendations about physical aspects of the premises which may have an impact on the experience of users.

Findings from the visits included:

 Patients and staff may have had some involvement in the design of Swindon health centre, but, in Healthwatch Swindon's view at each reception desk more space could be given for IT equipment and screens; and more privacy could be provided for patients as the sensitive detail of individuals’ health needs was overheard by our volunteers.

 One patient at Swindon health centre complained that there was no tea/coffee/water machine for those facing long waits.

 Healthwatch Swindon received mainly positive comments from the patients they spoke to about the services provided at both centres and also received one positive comment in writing following the visit to Swindon health centre. The building was universally regarded as a great improvement on the 30 year old former health centre at Carfax Street which it has replaced.

The report included 3 recommendations:

 Access standards and signage at Swindon NHS health centre should be reviewed by commissioners, providers and NHS Property Services in association with Swindon Equality and Access Group and urgent action taken to remedy the defects and omissions identified. This would include:

- external signage,

- ramp and fittings,

- steps,

- rumble strips

- external door etching,

- internal signage and symbols,

- notices,

- door handles,

- fittings,

- equipment,

- furniture,

- reception areas including privacy,

- induction loops,

- surfaces,

- surface colours throughout

- and lighting.

 Information about the services and facilities at all four health centres in Swindon (Swindon, Wroughton, Eldene and West Swindon) should be commissioned and provided in accessible formats, made readily available in both printed form and electronically and kept updated.

 Information displays should all be managed at both health centres so that the out of date posters on the board at Wroughton health centre would have been dealt with.

There are responses from the service provider contained in the report;