Last year Healthwatch England asked their national network of local organisations to find out from local people what they thought about the NHS Long Term Plan.
Healthwatch Sheffield have launched their report on the responses of people in Sheffield to the 10 year plan.
Key themes are:-
· The importance of support in your community – NHS services being available and accessible near to where you live, and having voluntary sector groups or organisations as a means of support.
· Person-centred care – being involved in decisions and having advice tailored to you. This included acknowledgement of your care as whole, rather than focusing on different conditions or illnesses separately, as well as considering what might aid your access to services, e.g. translation.
· The importance of prevention of illnesses – including early treatment of illnesses to stop people getting to crisis point and education to help you stay well.
· Concerns around the expansion of digital technologies – it was felt that people who didn’t have access to the internet or weren’t confident with technology were at risk of exclusion.
