Long waits for GP appointments, ‘difficult’ access to mental health crisis support and the cost and quality of care at some dental practices are key issues facing Islanders, a watchdog has found.
Healthwatch Isle of Wight’s 13th October to 12th November Intelligence Report on the Island’s health and social care services compiled feedback from residents which overall was 68% negative (162 responses), 31% positive (75) and 1% mixed or neutral (3).
The two most common topics were GP services, with over 80 negative responses, and the mental health crisis service where more than 20 were negative.
Service areas given either a wholly or mostly positive reception included ophthalmology, optometry, care at home and residential care homes.
One Islander told Healthwatch:
“Yesterday, after speaking to their mental health practitioner my relative was advised to take anti-depressants. He again tried to get a GP appointment to get a prescription and was given an appointment for 4th December (5 weeks away).
“The biggest killer for men my relative’s age is suicide.”
“I’ve called the number for the out of hours Island mental health support between 17:30 and 19:00 several times now and each day/time I’ve been met with an answerphone telling me to call 111,”
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A third said:
“We have two children who…haven’t seen a dentist for 18 months due to the issues with (dental practice). We are scared to go there ourselves, let alone put our kids there.”
However, on a positive note, the watchdog heard:
“The team at St Mary’s are excellent. We are so lucky to have such a skilled eye department on the Island.”
“I have nothing but praise for everyone who works in Old Charlton House, every aspect of care is exemplary,” Healthwatch heard in reference to the residential care home in Cowes.
NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight has been approached for comment.
5 months waiting for a dermatology appointment that when (and if) I finally get there I will wait for another long time to treat the basal cell carcinoma that the Lighthouse clinic diagnosed all those months back but can’t remove.
My son having to wait up to 18 months to see a dedicated one to one mental health professional..well that’s good then while he suffers can cant go to work..so he now on benefits instead this is why we have a massive problem.
The NHS ( No Hope Service) is in need of change
it ain’t the NHS it used too be!
Too many shirkers shirking from home is the problem.
The NHS was never envisaged or designed to deal with the complex issues of the modern world or dare I say the population we now have.You have a comedy situation although i appreciate it is anything but of family doctors packing patients off to hospitals for things they can but will not treat and the hospitals doing their level best to kick them out before many are actually fit to leave, each is trying to protect their own petty little empire.It is totally disjointed but so typical of a nationalised industry, how many doctors surgeries have a mental health professioanl on site, how many hospitals have a family doctor in the casualty area who could deal with all the minor issues that people who cannot get to see their own doctors so end up at hospital. This is not revolutionery or rocket science, everyone outside can see other than those in the NHS that should be able to see.
“it is totally disjointed but so typical of a nationalised industry”
So presumably, you are in favour of Farage’s plan to privatise the NHS, (to be specific, an American ‘Insurance Based’ system), so that the NHS provides fantastic, prompt and effective service…..Provided you are wealthy enough to pay for it (i.e. the insurance), …
& absolutely no healthcare if you’re not rich enough…
I do hope that all the people intending to, or considering voting Reform realise that this is (just) one of Farage’s goals that will negatively effect everyone except the rich.
you may be against any form of nationisation, but the reality is that in any sevice that is run as a ‘for profit’ business (like our ferries),. the ‘PROFIT’ part of it, is the fundamental focus of the business,.. the ‘Service’ comes a poor second to profit, & is only provided as the minimum required to make a profit….
Where a service has no alternative (like the NHS, or the ferries), the service provided really would / will be the absolute bare minimum, to get the maximum profit.
You remember that prick Blair (LABOUR) 8 days to save the NHS..you can throw billions at it but like its been said its not for for purpose now needs a way of working but its so huge its impossible.