Thank you: Over 18,000 people say what they think would make the NHS better

We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has shared their feedback with us about how the NHS Long Term Plan is implemented locally.

Healthwatch throughout England have been speaking to people about how they would like to see the changes set out in the NHS Long Term Plan implemented in their area.

The plan sets out a number of ways in which NHS care needs to improve, so local communities took the opportunity to have their say about what those changes should look like – both in person and via an online survey.

Healthwatch went out and about in their communities to hear people’s views. The team in Gloucestershire and Somerset went to supermarkets, car boot sales and hospitals across the regions to find out what people think, whilst Healthwatch in East Yorkshire and Hull chatted to people out shopping. 

So far we have heard from over 18,000 people about the changes they want to see to the NHS, with hundreds of surveys still being completed in areas across the country. Healthwatch will now share this feedback with local services to inform how the Long Term Plan is implemented in their area.

What did people say?

We asked people to share their views about how the NHS can better support their overall health, and how it can improve care for specific conditions too.

People spoke to us about how the NHS can give them more control of their care, help them to stay healthy, and provide better support. They also shared their views about how the NHS can better support people affected by cancer, dementia, mental health, heart and lung conditions, learning disabilities and autism.

Here are some examples of the feedback people shared with us.

A human touch: Cancer survivor shares the key to great care

*Kate* thinks there should be more investment in mental health in schools

Three ways the NHS can help autistic people or people with learning disabilities have a say

How the NHS can make care better for people with Down syndrome

Consistency: The key to better care for people with heart and lung conditions

Early diagnosis: The key to better care for people affected by dementia

More than medication: The key to better mental health support

What next?

Thanks to the over 18,000 people who shared their views with us about the changes they want to see to the NHS.

Healthwatch will now share this feedback with local services to inform how the Long Term Plan is implemented in their area. Look out for more details about the kind of changes people said they'd like to see in the coming months.