Waiting times major concern for long-term sufferers

Twenty-seven per cent of people surveyed by the Care Quality Commission and Healthwatch England said the biggest challenge they faced was waiting times, while a fifth (21 per cent) reported “ineffective or inaccessible” booking systems as the main issue.

The survey asked 1,000 people with chronic and long-term conditions about their experiences using health and social care services and found almost a quarter of people aged 18 to 24 (24 per cent) waited up to six months for an appointment, with one in five (21 per cent) feeling their condition was not “taken seriously” by the service involved.

Despite most people surveyed (71 per cent) being willing to give feedback to help improve care and services, more than half (54 per cent) were not regularly asked, and almost two-thirds (62 per cent) do not know how to.

Those aged 18 to 24-year-olds were more likely to share their experience — 32 per cent compared with six per cent of over 75s.

Kate Terroni, chief inspector of adult social care and interim chief operating officer at CQC, said: “People with chronic and long-term conditions often use health and social care services more and their insight into the care they receive is invaluable to us.

“Our research shows that people want to give feedback to help improve the care services in their community and to help protect people and their loved ones from harm.

“It is vital that people feel empowered to speak up about their care — we want to learn from their lived experiences, champion their voice and ensure people get good safe care.”

Louise Ansari, national director at Healthwatch England, said: “As we head into the winter, the NHS is facing pressures across the whole system.

“Patient feedback can help by enabling the NHS to spot issues and identify where services may need more help.”

People wanting to provide feedback can use the CQC’s Give Feedback on Care form on its website or phone the contact centre on 03000 61616.