Information and Signposting and Feedback Centre - what we heard in quarter 3
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Healthwatch East Sussex report on the themes in the information and signposting enquiries they received in Quarter three 2022-23. During this period, they heard from 111 people.
The most common enquiry theme during Q3 was GP services (40). Most contacts expressed frustration with the limited accessibility of appointments and long waiting times to contact GP surgeries. Issues included: appointments all being allocated by the time people phone; lengthy phone queues; and a lack of face-to-face appointments.
People also talked about perceived poor standards of care and patient experience, including misdiagnosis, lack of support from GPs/Practice staff, and a lack of timely follow-up such as referrals, prescriptions etc.
14 enquiries related to dentistry. Many people reported being unable to find an NHS dentist in East Sussex accepting new patients, despite extensive searching. This continues to be the most common form of dental enquiry.
Some enquirers required urgent treatment, as well as check-ups to help manage health conditions, but were struggling to find dentists. People also vented their frustrations at appointments being repeatedly cancelled.
Other enquiries were about hospital services, mental health, care homes and adult social care as well as more enquires related to multiple themes.