By Rufus Pickles - Local Democracy Reporter
A majority of recent feedback for the Island’s health and social care services is negative, according to an Island watchdog.
Healthwatch Isle of Wight’s (HIW) findings show residents are reporting long waits for autism and ADHD assessments, positive feedback for GP staff but negative feedback for accessing GP services, and concern over cost and availability of dental appointments.
More than 30 per cent of reaction was recorded as negative for GP services, compared to just below 20 per cent negative feedback for autism and ADHD services. Dentistry and pharmacy services also received large numbers of negative responses: more than 15 and 10 per cent of overall data respectively.
Generally 52 per cent of feedback was negative, four per cent was mixed or neutral and 44 per cent was positive.
Palliative care services had the most positive responses, amounting to over 15 per cent of the data and adult social care had 10 per cent positive feedback.
One user said, about a child autism assessment: “We have been on the waiting list for two-and-a-half years!”
Joanna Smith, HIW manager, said: “Some people have visited their GP practice to book an appointment and been told that this can’t be done in person; they will have to contact the surgery by telephone. Others have contacted their GP practice due to a respiratory infection, but have only been offered a telephone appointment.
“People are routinely reporting waits of over two years for autism and ADHD assessments. Once they receive a diagnosis, they have problems accessing ADHD medication – we are aware that this is a national problem.
“Since January, 119 people have reported negative experiences with dentistry; most are concerned about not being able to find an Island NHS dentist, others are struggling to afford private dental care. One person paid £1,500 for dental treatment which has not resolved their problems.”
The Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust has been contacted for a comment.
Carole Dennett