Key issues from May 2022

Healthwatch Sheffield’s May 2022 briefing summarised 55 pieces of feedback about health and social care services across the city. The most common themes were difficulties accessing GP appointments, NHS dentistry and mental health services. While many people reported positive experiences of care, recurring concerns centred on delays, long waiting times and problems accessing support when needed. 

Feedback about GP services was mixed. Many people praised staff and the quality of care they received, with one patient highlighting the benefits of a callback telephone system. However, the most common concerns related to difficulty getting through on the phone, limited appointment availability and long waits for routine or urgent consultations. Some patients reported call disconnections while seeking urgent help or receiving messages stating surgeries were closed despite calling during opening hours. Others described trying unsuccessfully to secure appointments over several months. 

Concerns about NHS dentistry continued to feature prominently. Many people reported being unable to access routine or urgent dental treatment because of long waiting lists and limited availability. Families described difficulties obtaining care for children, including access to orthodontic treatment. Healthwatch continued to raise concerns about dental access at a regional and national level, highlighting the need for meaningful contract reform and additional funding. Hospital feedback was generally positive, with patients praising staff professionalism and the quality of care received, although some concerns were raised about cancelled appointments. 

Mental health services generated both positive and negative feedback. While some people praised individual staff members for their compassion and support, long waiting times remained a major concern. Additional issues were reported on inpatient mental health wards, including difficulties contacting staff, poor phone and Wi-Fi connectivity, staff shortages, delays in support and medication, shortages of interpreters and concerns about continuity of care. Feedback about care and nursing homes was similarly mixed, with praise for caring staff alongside concerns about staffing shortages, communication difficulties and limited opportunities for residents to take trips outside the home despite the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions.