The wait for treatment - people's experiences in Suffolk

Healthwatch Suffolk decided to do a follow up report on waits for elective care.  They undertook a survey to which 1,416 people responded.

The evidence suggests that the impacts of waiting vary, and so support for those waiting needs to be tailored to conditions, life circumstances and the length of people’s wait. A one-size-fits-all approach just won’t adequately meet the needs of many people’s unique experiences. Just as we need personalised health and care, we need tailored support for times when that care just can’t be delivered quickly. 

Worryingly, this report also reveals ‘an epidemic of pain’ as people struggle to manage as they wait. This is especially true of certain conditions. It shows that delay in treatment is both creating new family carers supporting those living in daily pain, and simultaneously disabling those who already have caring responsibilities at home.

As Healthwatch Suffolk's last report showed, waiting for elective care affects every part of people’s lives. It shrinks people’s worlds and, in some cases, isolates people from friends and families through fear and immobility – eroding key sources of support at a time when people need it most. It affects jobs and financial security, relationships, independence, and can seriously impact people’s mental and physical wellbeing.  This report raises the question as to who should be responsible for coordinating and providing care that enables people to ‘wait well'. 

Since their last report, ‘waiting well’ resources have been created by the local health and care system. Whilst recognising the benefits of this, and the efforts of those working in systems to address the needs of waiting patients, the findings of this report question whether that resource is enough to keep people as well as possible.