Liverpool Community Health Listening Event Report
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Healthwatch Liverpool visited four Liverpool Community Health services in October 2017: Abacus sexual health service, Liverpool City Centre Walk-in Centre, South Liverpool Walk-in Centre and Old Swan Walk-in Centre. Feedback was gathered from 112 patients across the four services. Overall, patient experiences were highly positive, with most people praising the quality of care, staff attitudes, convenience of access and the information they received. Many patients said they would recommend the services to family and friends.
Abacus was particularly valued for providing specialist sexual health support with flexible access and knowledgeable staff. Patients appreciated being able to attend without waiting for a GP appointment and generally felt well informed and respected. Some concerns were raised about waiting times, appointment availability and the size of the shared waiting area, which occasionally led to concerns about privacy due to its shared use with the City Centre Walk-in Centre.
The three walk-in centres were widely praised for providing convenient alternatives to GP appointments and A&E attendance. Patients frequently highlighted friendly staff, good quality treatment and the ability to access care quickly. Many described difficulties obtaining GP appointments and therefore relied on walk-in services for timely support. A small number of patients reported long waits at busy periods, concerns about parking and limited privacy near reception desks, but most felt these were minor issues compared with the overall quality of care provided.
Healthwatch concluded that all four services were highly valued by patients and were meeting local needs effectively. While some improvements could be made around waiting areas, privacy at reception and appointment availability, there were no major concerns about quality or safety. The report highlighted the important role played by these services in providing quick access to healthcare and reducing pressure on other parts of the NHS.