Healthwatch Somerset roadshow to visit Burnham-On-Sea seafront

A Healthwatch Somerset roadshow will be visiting Burnham-On-Sea next week as part of a countywide tour this month.

From Monday 9th May to Saturday 21st May, the roadshow will be visiting community venues across Somerset to find out about the health and care issues that matter most and also to gather residents’ feedback about GP websites and digital access.

Residents will also be able to find out about the new Somerset GP Community Pharmacy Consultation Service which is being rolled out across Somerset this year.

Somerset CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) will be joining Healthwatch Somerset to raise awareness of the new service which offers a same-day consultation for over 40 minor injuries and illnesses with your local community pharmacist, via your local GP.

Dates for Healthwatch Somerset roadshow:

Mon 9 May (11am-4pm) – Taunton, Fore Street
Tues 10 May (11am-4pm) – Minehead, The Beach Hotel (outside)
Weds 11 May (11am-4pm) – Bridgwater, Angel Place Shopping Centre
Thurs 12 May (11am-4pm) – Burnham-On-Sea, The Esplande
Fri 13 May (11am-4pm) – Wellington, Wellington Medical Centre (outside)
Sat 14 May (9am-1pm) – Shepton Mallet, Dobbies Garden Centre (outside)
Sun 15 May (9am-1pm) – Cheddar, Hillier Garden Centre (outside)
Mon 16 May (11am-4pm) – Chard, Minor Injuries Hospital (outside)
Tues 17 May (11am-4pm) – Yeovil, Asda (outside)
Weds 18 May (11am-4pm) – Wincanton, Balsam Centre (outside)
Thurs 19 May (9am-1pm) – Street, Street Market
Fri 20 May (11am-4pm) – Frome, Boyle Cross, Market Place
Sat 21 May (9am-1pm) – Somerton, Brunel Shopping Precinct

Launching the project, Healthwatch Somerset Manager, Gill Keniston-Goble, said: “The use of digital technology is rapidly becoming the main way to find information about your health and wellbeing from your GP surgery, but not everyone can use digital methods and some people choose not to. We want to understand more about the impact of digitalisation – the benefits and the barriers this can create.”

“The NHS England national GP patient survey 2021 shows that 58% of those who completed the survey in Somerset did not use GP online services to book appointments, order repeat prescriptions, access their medical records, or for consultations or appointments. 50% said they had not tried to use their GP’s website to look for information or to access to services.”

“By going out and talking to people in communities across Somerset and gathering feedback via our survey and focus groups, we hope to hear from a diverse mix of people with varying health, care, communication and access needs. We will then identify where change is needed and make sure that NHS and care leaders listen to public feedback to improve access to care for everyone.”

Healthwatch Somerset Chair, Judith Goodchild, adds: “Our roadshow is a wonderful opportunity to be able to engage with people and find out what they really feel about the health and social care services in Somerset. Your views are really important and will be used to help commissioners when developing future services.”

Healthwatch Somerset is investigating people’s experiences of using GP websites to get health and wellbeing information and support.

They want as many people as possible to share their feedback to help identify what works well, what doesn’t, and how things could be done differently to improve access to information on GP websites for everyone.

You can share your views by completing a survey which is available in print and online by visiting: healthwatchsomerset.co.uk/project/digital-access, or you can complete it over the phone by calling Healthwatch Somerset on Freephone 0800 999 1286. The survey closes on Sunday 22 May.