Reports of long waits for GP appointments and concerns about accessing dentistry and mental health services are front and centre in a new report from an Isle of Wight watchdog.
Feedback on Island health and social care services between 13th January and 12th February was 54% negative (152 responses), 3% mixed or neutral (8) and 43% positive (120), according to Healthwatch Isle of Wight.
GP and dentistry services were the most common feedback areas, each receiving mostly unfavourable reaction.
The report did however include overwhelmingly positive feedback for residential and nursing care homes.
One Islander told Healthwatch:
“I had a dental abscess on a tooth that got worse very quickly. I was in a lot of pain and was quite worried that it was going to affect my breathing.
“I called 111 at 09:00 and was told they would ring me back in the next 12 hours. They called about eight hours later and said there were no available emergency dentist appointments available on the Island.”
Another said:
“Requested a telephone appointment as directed by (GP) online booking, waited by the phone at designated time, no call.
“20 mins after time got a non-reply text to say I hadn’t turned up for appointment (I booked a phone call not a face to face).”
A third praised Denbigh House dental practice in Ryde as “absolutely wonderful” and said all its staff are “amazing”.
An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson said:
“The council is proud of the service it commissions from Healthwatch Isle of Wight and values the work that they do to support Island residents.
“The Healthwatch Isle of Wight quarterly intelligence report provides great insight into health and social care locally and forms part of the councils’ oversight of services. The themes and trends identified shape our services and those that are commissioned.”
A spokesperson for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said:
“We welcome feedback from Healthwatch Isle of Wight and value the role it plays in helping ensure the views of patients, families and carers are heard.
“We will consider the contents of the report as part of our ongoing work with partners as we continue to develop our Island services, including access to mental health support.”
NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight has been approached for comment.
Not surprising, the NHS is a shadow of it’s former self.
No matter how much money is pumped into the NHS
it will not change a thing.
The staff are not what they used too be!, it used to be a
calling, now it is a sick pay employer.
Staff abuse the system!
From what I read thesedays on national news
migrants get better healthcare than born and bred
UK citizens.
Dentists visit them in hotels or wherever they are housed.
The NHS service is not providing the services we were once
used to receiving.
Our illegal muslim friends get all help straight away..ours get none.
I keep thinking why did my late father
go to war in WW2!!, not for 2026 Britain
As an ex Royal Marine for many years, why the bloody hell did I bother?? You run with the thought in your head that if you kill an insurgent, you will end up in court and end with being banged up.
Vote Greens! Then those migrants will get our housing and an income from our taxes as well. If they can get here they can have it all. Go Greens!
Still better to vote Conservative, even they weren’t
that bad.
You must be well off if you think like that.
This is what happens when we keep voting in weak governments, one after another. They all lie about what they are going to do. If they were going to do something about poor services, why didn’t they do it before when they were in????
18 months my son has to wait and still waiting !! for dedicated one to one..so lost his job can’t work on benefits has bills to pay as bought his own home..Good isn’t it..
Labour Britain
Yet another joke in poor taste. If Labour or the Conservatives were the answer, it must have been a stupid question.
Well it cost both of us £250 per filling for private dentist £75 for a check up. It’s robbery and no need for such extortion but we have no other option here.
GP, impossible to see, all replaced by nurse practitioners who are not qualified to do the job of a GP who has studied years.
No wonder the hospital is on its knees with so many patients, they are no longer looked after by the GP in the community. They get sicker and sicker, end up calling an Ambulance and then if they are elderly can no longer get home and need ongoing care.
We want NHS dentists.
Doctors and GP.
English nurses trained on the Island with a monthly wage. NURSES DO NOT NEED DEGREES.
Get real.
It is time to abolish the NHS it’s finished.
it is a cash cow for employees who abuse
sick leave.
Abolish the NHS, your SICK in the head. As I said previously, you must be well off to afford the full price for prescriptions and dentistry.