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We are here to listen to what you like about services and what you think could be improved. No matter how big or small the issue, we want to hear about it.

Following patient feedback, the NHS has committed to making it easier and quicker for you to get the help you need from your GP and the healthcare community around your surgery. Our newly updated booklet explains what changes you may see, and how you can help us monitor them.

The booklet contains:

• information about the GP Access Recovery Plan and what it means for you;
• the roles of the various qualified health professionals who will be able to support you and offer care at your GP surgery;
• information about changes at your pharmacy;
• information about the NHS App, and digital and non-digital ways of accessing healthcare, e.g. booking GP appointments;
• how you can help us monitor these changes;
• positive initiatives already happening in the local area;

Access to NHS dental care continues to be one of the main issues we hear about from the public. The Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care System (ICS) has published a draft oral health and dental strategy for the next three years.

The strategy has been developed using patient complaints, feedback collated by Healthwatch, a staff survey and with the support of staff across all areas of dental provision, NHS England and local authority public health. It's part of a wider plan to tackle inequalities in outcomes, experience, and access to treatment and care.

You are invited to provide feedback on the strategy and share it with others. The survey closes on 30th June 2024.

102 people in Knowle West, Hartcliffe and Weston-super-Mare spoke to us about their experiences of health and social care. They shared the barriers and failures that prevented them from accessing local services, and what improvements are needed.

Findings

Access to appointments in GP practices is key:

• Many people give up trying to make an appointment as they say it is so difficult and too long a wait, reducing the opportunity for early diagnosis and timely intervention.
• People can feel judged or stigmatised during contact with their GP practice, e.g. when being triaged by a receptionist or care navigator.
• Communication challenges including not being listened to or being 'fobbed off'