Healthwatch Isle of Wight is strongly urging Isle of Wight residents to complete its annual priority survey.
The survey consists of a list of the top 20 most common health or care themes that have been reported to Healthwatch Isle of Wight over the past 12 months, such as GP services, inpatient care and dentistry.
Healthwatch asks that people choose their top 5 priorities, with the areas that receive the highest number of votes becoming the next areas that Healthwatch Isle of Wight will begin to work on.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many changes and challenges within the health and care sector at the moment and Healthwatch play an important role in ensuring the public are not adversely affected. In order to make sure they are as effective as possible it is vital that people continue to share their experiences and contribute to their surveys as it is this information they use to demonstrate the impact upon service users to commissioners and service providers.
As a result of last year’s survey, Healthwatch Isle of Wight has completed work on dentistry and as a result of this, NHS England completed an oral health needs assessment within Hampshire and the Isle of Wight at the end of last year, prior to recommissioning NHS dental services later this year. Healthwatch Isle of Wight is continuing to highlight the plight of those people who do not have access to an NHS dentist and are working with commissioners to get more NHS dental appointments available on the Island.
They are also working with GP practices to highlight access issues, reported by Island residents.
Joanna Smith, Healthwatch Isle of Wight Manager, says:
“This survey will ensure that the voices of the Isle of Wight people are heard. With the changes to integrated health and care systems expected this year, it has never been more important for people to share their experiences and have a say in how services are delivered and improved”.
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The survey is open now and will run until 21st March 2022 – https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/B86PBJ/. Hard copies of the survey are available on request and will be available at most Island libraries next week
Anyone who requires support to complete the survey or who wishes to share their experiences (good or bad) of local health and/or care services can do so by ringing 01983 608608 or by emailing [email protected].
Stop the lip service surveys, more GPs and Dentists required. Make it legally enforceable, that all the new housing developments who promise a Doctors surgery, actually do so.