Concerns about the increasing use of online GP services, access to crisis mental health support, and NHS dentistry have been highlighted in an Isle of Wight watchdog report.
Between 13th February – 12th March, Healthwatch gathered feedback on Island health and social care services which was 59% negative (107 responses), 38% positive (68) and 3% mixed or neutral (5).
The two most common themes in its findings were GP and dentistry services.
NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight in response pointed to ‘improved access’ to routine and urgent NHS dental care and cited the delivery of over a million GP appointments across the region in January and February.
A Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson meanwhile said Islanders requiring urgent mental health support can now access help 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by calling NHS 111 free of charge.
One resident told Healthwatch of difficulty getting face-to-face appointments at a GP surgery and said “doing it all online” does not work well with queries just requiring a quick answer.
Another said:
“The dentist accused me of delaying treatment when I had been waiting for months, and my appointments had been cancelled by the surgery not me.”
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A third spoke of calling 111 Mental Health Crisis support, waiting 20 minutes and then hanging up.
“After listening to their auto message that they’re busy helping other people, I decided mine wasn’t as important,” they said. “A crisis service that leaves you on hold for 20 minutes? It took a long time to get up the courage to call them anyway.”
James Roach, director of primary care and local care for NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said:
“People on the Island now have improved access to routine and urgent NHS dental care as we work with two different providers offering an additional 42,000 appointments between them and with more access due to be commissioned.
“We have also made additional investment into oral health promotion for children because we know early prevention is key to better health outcomes.
“We know demand for services continue to be high – in both January and February more than a million GP practice appointments were delivered across Hampshire and Isle of Wight.
“The trend of increasing appointment numbers has also been seen on the Isle of Wight along with more people accessing services virtually.
“And between October 2025 and January 2026, around 40,000 people also accessed the Pharmacy First service to get advice and treatment for 7 common conditions.”
He said the integrated health board (ICB) know appointment data alone only paints one half of the picture, and how a person felt their appointment went can tell a different story.
While ‘broadly speaking’ patient satisfaction is improving, the ICB understands there is still more to be done, Mr Roach added.
A spokesperson for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“This week we have continued our good working relationship with Healthwatch Isle of Wight by way of a productive conversation about our services.
“We welcome the feedback gathered by Healthwatch as it ensures that patients, families, carers and the public are heard openly and regularly.
“We note the report’s particular point around people’s concerns about access to crisis mental health support.
“We are pleased to have recently communicated a way in which these concerns are being meaningfully responded to.
“People on the Isle of Wight who need urgent mental health support can now access help 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by calling NHS 111 free of charge and selecting the mental health option (option 2).”
The Isle of Wight Council has been approached for comment.
So 180 people moaned to Healthwatch in the month. These people are not randomly selected, they are people who go out of the their way to voice an opinion. They are “self selected”, their views do not represent the population.
It’s about time the NHS went back to pre-pandemic days
and got “ALL” staff back into the work place.
It would be nice if gp’s actually listened and didn’t make you feel as though you’re on a ticking ten minute clock when you eventually get to see one.
Also look at your results before you arrive instead of fobbing you off saying they’re satisfactory when really they’re not and they can’t be bothered to check properly.
people are slipping through the net because they don’t know how to ask or seek more thorough answers.
Its despicable really, what’s the point having blood tests and scans if they’re not willing to discuss options with patients.
We should not have to keep pushing to get results or intervention ourselves they should be proactive with patient care. I can’t remember when the nhs has been so flippant and unbothered it makes be mad!
They don’t deserve to be called health care professionals
Lol All very well saying they delivered over a million GP appointments, but if 2 million are needed, that’s not good.
Mental Health Service on the Island is famously dreadful and I spent 48 hours in excruciating pain with Toothache last September. I should have been an emergency within 24 hours… It was awful… Wouldn’t wish it on anybody