Report: Economic deprivation and access to healthcare

Around 3% of people live in moderate economic deprivation in South Gloucestershire. The area is struggling with the ripple effects of hospital closures and a fragmented public transport network.

Transport is a key factor when it comes to health and social care. Patients who don't or can't drive are often forced into long, multi-stage journeys that turn routine medical appointments into day-long ordeals - if they can get an appointment at all.

We asked people what changes would help them access health and social care services. Download our full report below.

Barriers to health and social care in South Gloucestershire

We heard about:

• Long waiting times for an GP appointment or to speak to a member of staff from their GP surgery over the phone.
• Unreliable and expensive public transport, which remains one of the biggest barriers to healthcare in the area.
  • People who can drive to appointments face limited or expensive parking, especially at hospitals.
• The need for continuity of care within a GP setting - seeing the same GP or other medical practitioner each time.
• The NHS App and online options such as eConsult have made it easier for people to book appointments, but this isn't accessible for everyone.

People’s responses suggest that there is a perception that changes have not been made to improve South Gloucestershire’s access to health services, especially for those living in more economically deprived and isolated areas. This is contrary to the plans set out in the South Gloucestershire Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-29.

Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences with us. Healthwatch will continue to monitor patient experiences and make recommendations to improve local health and social care services. 

Want to share your feedback with us? Complete our online feedback form.