Spotlight on: Rustington, East Preston, Angmering, and Littlehampton REAL Patient Group

The event was an opportunity for residents to meet their GP’s, ask questions and learn about the services provided and discuss any planned changes to services.

Several community groups also spoke about the services they provide: Katie Glover, CEO MIND Coastal West Sussex, talked about mental health focussing on the
work of Pathfinder. Cheryl Berry, Healthwatch West Sussex, talked about how our work enables change as 'It Starts With You'.

The questions asked covered a range of topics, with the key topics being:

• Accessing and time allocation of GP and hospital appointments

Discussion about extended hours

Discussion about fining people who do not attend an appointment

Loss of home visits

• Communication with health care professionals

Discussion on the maze that is the NHS

• Repeat prescription and medication reviews

Could prescriptions be limited to shorter time frames 3-6 months

• The particular issues of Fitzalan GP surgery was also discussed
• Access to medical records
• Health service capacity to cope with new housing in the area.
• How are the needs of those with learning disabilities supported?
• New ways of working such as SKYPE

The insight from this event and individual insight given to our Community Engagement
Workers was collated and anonymised and forms part of the insight and evidence that
Healthwatch gather to identify common themes around what works and doesn’t work for local people.