How residents view and use same day urgent care services - Yeovil, South Somerset East and South Somerset West
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The Somerset ICB asked Healthwatch Somerset to gather the views of people living across the county. Healthwatch 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 49 people Healthwatch spoke to in Yeovil, South Somerset East and South Somerset West.
A large majority of participants recalled that NHS 111 provide same day urgent care services, followed by GP practices and pharmacies. No participants mentioned that MIUs, dental practices and opticians offer these services.
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 e.g. being in pain or prolonged sickness.
Overall, participants feel OK about finding the information they need to access various same day urgent care services. Several participants find their pharmacist to be a helpful resource.
Participants shared both positive and negative same day urgent care experiences. The vast majority of participants said they are happy to see the wider healthcare team for advice, and that they often see advanced nurse practitioners instead of a GP.
Healthwatch was told that it is particularly difficult to access dental care in Yeovil.
GP practices in the areas tend to offer appointments by phone and through the Ask My GP App. Access to and quality of GP appointments varies by area.
The large majority of participants Healthwatch spoke to said they feel OK about the distances they need to travel to access their GP practice and Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department.