Long Term Plan York Report

Healthwatch York, along with five other local Healthwatch partners across the Humber Coast and Vale area, gathered people’s views on what they would like to see from their local health and care services, based on the priorities identified in the NHS Long Term Plan (LTP). This work was carried out through a general survey for all members of the public, a condition-specific survey for those who had experienced specific clinical pathways, a general focus group, and a condition-specific focus group. This report focuses on the findings for the York area only.

Key findings from the general survey included that 87% of respondents stated that having a professional that listened to them when speaking about their concerns was very important, and 86% felt that having access to help and treatment when needed was very important. When asked what could be changed to improve their health, York respondents overwhelmingly stated they need better access to GPs. Others wanted to see better use of technology without losing the human touch. There was also interest in affordable exercise opportunities and support with nutrition.

Focus groups also highlighted concerns about access to GPs and the challenges as well as benefits of technological improvement. People talked about wanted more control through having access to their medical records. People also spoke about wanting more flexibility in services, better communication between services and more of a person-centred approach across the support and treatment available. When asked what would help people to maintain their independence as they grow older, many highlighted the need for more accessible and regular local transport.

The condition-specific survey aimed to find out how people with specific challenges experienced the health service. Whilst people reported some good experiences, most reported negative feedback. People talked about the lack of support available to them and long waiting times to receive diagnoses, get the right treatment and access support. They felt that regular check-ups would improve their health, and better communication between services would improve their experiences. Specialist nurses who are easily accessible and able to provide quality information were highlighted as a positive aspect of people’s experiences. People also spoke about support they had received through charities which had been valuable and effective.