Tell us more about how you get health and care help, advice and information when you need it
News: Helping people find the right care – our new Guide to Healthcare
Over the last year, we have been working on a campaign to help people find their way to the care they need. Listening to our communities through our People’s Panel and others via surveys and a series of focus groups, we’ve developed a simple, illustrated Guide to Healthcare.
Your help in the process has been extremely valuable, thanks again for taking part in the survey and focus groups.
We heard from you that you wanted detailed illustrations in colour, with short, clear text to make the guide easy to understand. You wanted a description of some NHS services you hadn’t heard of before. And you wanted something printed you could keep. We took on this feedback as well as your other comments.
The guide went through more testing with local people in November and was positively received. Most people said it would be a useful resource they would look back on and share. They also suggested ways to make it better, such as making some of the illustrations and pathways to care clearer and using simpler language.
We also shared the guide with a group of clinicians. Again, the feedback was positive with some suggestions around extra symptoms to include, making some illustrations clearer and including other ways to contact NHS services.
The guide has now been finalised and is being given out in Lewisham as a pilot, supported by a digital campaign.
Starting with a symptom or condition, the guide maps out a clear route to getting better at home, or when and how you might need to get advice or treatment from one of the NHS services.
The pilot will run for three months. If successful, the campaign will be rolled out across south east London.
If you live in Lewisham, keep a lookout for the Guide. You may get one through your door – or they’ll be in pharmacies, libraries and other places.
See the digital version of the guide here
Context
During September - October 2023 we invited you and others to tell us about how you get health and care help, advice and information when you need it – whether this is from the NHS, or from somewhere else.
We were keen to work with people to better understand how we can support them to find the right service for their needs. This includes how and where to find urgent medical advice when you need it, and what to do when your child is unwell. The survey responses helped us understand how to better approach and respond to your needs to ensure we are helping you and other people living in your area. Your experience and views were very useful in shaping what we do.
Survey report
Thank you to everyone responding to our survey. All the survey results were collated in a report that can be seen here. The survey was shared with you and other members of the public in south east London aiming to complement the survey responses that we have collected from newly recruited South East London People’s Panel - report here.
Recommendations
- Considering developing clear and accessible messaging around NHS services and how people can access
- Aiming to increase public understanding, awareness and confidence in different services such as – NHS 111 online, Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC)/Minor Injuries Unit (MIU), Walking Centres
- Developing accessible communications materials and share in the community to increase awareness of how to access the right care at the right time.