Communication and digital divides

Earlier this year Healthwatch England jointly published new research with The King’s Fund and National Voices, about people’s experiences of NHS admin processes. 

The report warns that issues such as letters arriving after appointments and not being kept updated about waiting times can be frustrating, but can also risk some patients not receiving the treatment they need on time. Poor admin also affects NHS staff who may bear the brunt of people’s frustration when patients have been given incorrect information or none at all. The research shows that poor admin drives a perception of NHS waste.

We will reach out to our diverse communities across Dorset to find out more about their experiences of a digital divide.

Urgent and Emergency Care pathways

We will work with Youth Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) in Dorset, to explore health inequalities through their understanding of urgent and emergency care in Dorset, and what NHS communications could be missing when reaching out young people.

Barriers to health and social care

This project will undertaken in two phases:

  • During autumn 2025, we will work with students from Weymouth College to investigate how young people look for information about health and social care, and importantly, what sources they trust.
  • We will also engage with students from Bournemouth to look at the barriers to health and social care for people with English as a second language.

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