Media release: Scots want to have their say on health and care – but don’t know how to get involved
A new report from Healthcare Improvement Scotland has found that more people want to become involved in planning the country’s health and care services – but only a small percentage actually take part.
The statistics were revealed in the 17th Citizens Panel report, which gathered views from 603 people. They were asked about their awareness of, and involvement in, the planning of healthcare services.
A large majority of respondents (95%) were interested in planning decisions for healthcare services that are relevant to them. But only one in 10 respondents (9%) said they had been involved or had influenced the planning.
Nearly all respondents (99%) felt that it is important for planners to consider, when looking at healthcare services, how changes will affect patients, carers and families.
When asked what decision makers should prioritise when planning healthcare services, 24% said accessibility. This meant things like access to services, waiting times, locations, rural and island access, and digital exclusion.
Another 19% prioritised taking a person-led approach. This would mean planners considering person-centred care, dignity, compassion, lived experience, vulnerability, welfare, impact for families, carers and the emotional impact.
Local need was the third highest priority. People wanted local services, community, local knowledge, rural areas, geography, inequitable access and travel distance to be considered.
However, when it comes to receiving details, most people still prefer to receive information about planning decisions that are relevant to them in a written summary (57 %), a poster or leaflet (53 %) or media piece (46 %), with 41% opting for a short video 41%.
Clare Morrison, Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s Director of Engagement and Change, said:
“People are clearly interested in having their voice heard in decisions which will affect them and their families when it comes to planning health and care services. They have strong views on how they want this to be planned in terms of their priorities.
“All organisations involved in planning health and social care services in Scotland should use the findings in this report to improve the public’s involvement in planning activities.
“This report tells us that something is missing: although a large majority of those surveyed want to have their voice heard, but only around one in 10 people have taken part in discussions. We need to act now to connect our healthcare planning more with the people in our communities across Scotland.”
Director of Engagement and Change
Those interested in finding out more about planning decisions and changes to healthcare services, would be most likely to use the NHS Inform website (56 %). Others would look for information via the Scottish Government website (44 %) or local NHS board or Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) website (37 %).
However, around a fifth of respondents (18 %) wouldn’t know where to look for this information.
Clare added:
“Healthcare Improvement Scotland will work with partners to consider how to take forward the specific points raised in this report. The fact that almost a fifth of those surveyed didn’t know where to look for information is something that should be considered.
“It’s important the voices of our communities are heard. We want to strengthen public understanding of healthcare planning, improve communication, and support more meaningful public and patient involvement in ways that reflect the priorities expressed by Panel members.”
Director of Engagement and Change
The full report is now available to read online:
https://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.scot/publications/seventeenth-citizens-panel-report/
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Notes to editor
The Citizens Panel for health and social care is part of Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s work to involve people in the development and delivery of care services.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland undertakes engagement with people and communities from across all 32 local authority areas to ensure that services meet their needs, identify sustainable service improvements and to develop trust.
Their findings are later compiled into reports, which are published on the Healthcare Improvement Scotland Community Engagement website at www.hisengage.scot.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s statutory role is to help improve the quality of health and care, provide information to the public about the quality of health and care services, monitor public involvement, and to evaluate and provide advice on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of medicines and health technologies.