How residents view and use same day urgent care services - Chard, Ilminster and Crewkerne
Download (PDF 412.24 KB)Summary of report content
The Somerset ICB asked Healthwatch Somerset to gather the views of people living across the county. They did this by creating a countywide survey and by engaging with local people at community groups, libraries and other public spaces in Bridgwater, West Mendip, Frome, North Sedgemoor, Central Mendip, Taunton Dean, Yeovil, South Somerset West, South Somerset East, Chard, Ilminster and Crewkerne. This report presents the views of 56 people Healthwatch spoke to in Chard, Ilminster and Crewkerne.
A large majority of participants could recall that pharmacies offer same day urgent care services. Just over half mentioned GP practices and just under half said MIUs. Few could recall the NHS 111 call service.
The majority of participants said they think they would need to see a healthcare professional on the same day if they were experiencing urgent but not life-threatening symptoms, for example, the presence of a lump.
The majority of participants said they feel confident about sourcing SDUC related information.
Participants shared both positive and negative SDUC experiences with us. Negative experiences centred around the quality of SDUC at Chard medical practices while positive experiences highlighted the same day support by pharmacists and by Crewkerne and Summervale surgeries.
The majority of participants said they are happy to see the wider healthcare team for advice (particularly pharmacists). However, residents in Chard said they have been experiencing prescription delays.
Participants from Chard said that it is very difficult to secure a GP appointment, and many participants felt this has got worse since the GP practices in Chard merged.
Participants said there is no NHS dentist in Chard and that residents can’t even get on the waiting list to see a private dentist.
Most participants said that travelling to Taunton or Yeovil Hospital is difficult for those without their own transport due to poor transport links.