Findings from this year’s Healthwatch East Sussex 2022 Listening Tour are being collated and will be used to support positive changes to local health and care services.

The organisation heard from 489 residents about local services across Eastbourne via surveys, focus groups, interviews, pop-up stands and events such as the Launch Event and Big Health and Care Question Time.

Some of its key findings include:

• The challenge of accessing GP and dentist appointments
• Anxiety around the cost-of-living crisis and what’s to come
• Accessibility for disabled residents
• The public and patients highlighted their appreciation for the professionalism, care and dedication of health and care staff
• Gaps in Mental health support within the homeless community
• The use of heteronormative language in health and care settings
• Lack of knowledge around rights among refugees

The organisation said that by speaking up, residents were helping to change services for themselves and many others.

They thanked everyone who shared their feedback and experiences during the Listening Tour, and all the organisations and community groups that they worked with during the tour.

Healthwatch will use the feedback it received during the two-week programme of engagement activities and events in October to make recommendations to support future health care plans.

These recommendations will be shared on its website and social media, so keep an eye on these sites for any update over the coming months.

For general Listening Tour enquiries please contact Anna Hoad, Community Engagement Officer via enquiries@healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk or call 0333 101 4007.

To share feedback on health and care services in East Sussex any time, visit the Healthwatch East Sussex Feedback Centre.