More than 1,450 people have already contributed their views on how health and care services in Essex can be enhanced for residents. The feedback, gathered through a survey by the NHS Essex Integrated Care Board, will directly influence the priorities set for the next five years. Residents have until June 30 to participate and shape the future of local healthcare.
Early Feedback Highlights Key Concerns
Initial responses have identified several critical areas, including the ability to see a health professional and waiting times, the impact of lifestyle factors such as the cost of living, mental health, and stress on overall wellbeing, communication between different services and with patients, and the ease of navigating through various healthcare services.
One resident shared a personal challenge: “From my point of view as a deaf person, I find the communication issues a real challenge when speaking to hospitals and doctors. Very often, the health service will phone me, say ‘I've got your results’ or ‘I've got your appointment’. And I have told them numerous times, can you put something around the system to say I'm deaf? Can you email me this information? And the system doesn't work, does it.”
NHS Essex Encourages Further Participation
NHS Essex is keen to hear more personal experiences through the survey, which can be completed online at https://virtualviews.essex.icb.nhs.uk/help-shape-the-future-of-nhs-services-in-essex. Tom Abell, chief executive for NHS Essex, said: “Thank you to all the people that have shared their views to help shape health services locally. We have had a fantastic response to our survey so far. If you haven’t had a chance to respond yet, there’s still time. The survey is open until June 30. Your views will help us to understand how people experience health care, give us insight into what is working well and reveal where we need to improve.”
Disparities Across Essex Emphasize Need for Broad Input
Where people live in Essex can have a large effect on lifespan, access to services, health and wellbeing, and quality of life. Figures show that people could live 12 years longer in some parts of the county. Essex has an older population than the national average and it is growing, with 20% of people aged 65 and over. Basildon, Harlow, and Thurrock have a younger population (under 65) than other parts of Essex, while Castle Point, Maldon, Rochford, and Tendring have older populations (over 65). Coastal communities, new towns, and larger cities and towns in Essex are in the 20% most deprived communities nationally. Therefore, it is important NHS Essex hears from people living across the whole of Essex – from Tendring, Colchester, and Harlow, from Uttlesford to Thurrock, and across Brentwood, Basildon, and Southend.
Population Health Improvement Plan
More information about the NHS Essex’s Population Health Improvement Plan is available at https://www.essex.icb.nhs.uk/about/icb/health-improvement-plan/.
