We engaged with members of the carers support group who meet monthly at the GP Medical Centre in Martock. We informed the group about our work and role of Healthwatch, and listened to their queries and concerns about the health and social care services that they use. We also introduced our survey on ‘How Connected are You?’
Key findings
It can be difficult to get through to the GP Surgery at South Petherton.
One member of the group commented that they had felt unwell and called the surgery and described her symptoms as being headache, muscle spasms and weakness, which are symptoms of a stroke. She had to wait two hours for an appointment with GP. The GP asked for an ambulance to be called immediately once he had seen her. However the phones at the GP were not working and a further delay was incurred while he had to get reception staff to contact 999.
Husband has ongoing health needs and his care plan states that if he needs an ambulance from home he must be taken to Musgrove Park Hospital. Despite this an ambulance took him to Yeovil District Hospital. The care plan was not followed and the commentator asked why was the ambulance service not notified of the care plan and the need for her husband to be taken to Musgrove. Delays at Yeovil District Hospital were then incurred while transport was arranged.
A group member commented that they had driven to Dorchester Hospital for an operation, but once they arrived she was informed that they could not do the operation as Musgrove Park Hospital had not sent her records or medical notes.
A group member said that their partner was discharged from Yeovil District Hospital being told that they would need a weekly ECG at their GP surgery in South Petherton. This was not communicated with GP surgery.
A member of the group was pleased that the heart failure team at Musgrove Park Hospital telephoned them regularly to monitor and advise on their partner’s heart condition.
Two members of the group said that we were always very good at getting back to them and had understood their concerns and provided useful information about signposting.
One group member reported that while their partner was being treated at Musgrove Hospital recently there was only one shower for 24 patients and staff were too busy to assist her partner into the shower.
This report was produced by the previous Healthwatch Somerset service provider, The Care Forum.
Read our report
If you need this report in a different format, please email info@healthwatchsomerset.co.uk or call 0800 999 1286.