What Do People Want From NHS Communications?
A recent article from Healthwatch England explores four key things people say they want from NHS communications, based on feedback gathered from patients and communities across the country. The findings highlight the importance of clear, timely and accessible information — particularly when people are trying to access appointments, understand changes to services or make decisions about their care.
The article highlights that people want:
- Clear and easy-to-understand communication
- Timely updates and information
- Communication that is accessible and inclusive
- Better consistency across services
At Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, we regularly hear similar feedback from local residents. People tell us that communication can have a huge impact on their overall healthcare experience — whether that’s receiving appointment information, understanding referral pathways, knowing where to go for support or being kept informed about delays and service changes.
Good communication helps people feel informed, reassured and able to make decisions about their care. When communication is poor or unclear, it can increase stress, confusion and barriers to accessing support.
Clear and accessible communication is particularly important for people who may already face additional challenges when accessing healthcare, including older people, disabled people, carers, people whose first language is not English and those who may struggle with digital access.
We’d encourage local people, professionals and community groups to read the article and reflect on whether it mirrors experiences within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Read the full article from Healthwatch England
We’d also welcome your experiences of communication from local NHS and social care services (both positive and negative) as this helps us continue to highlight what matters most to local communities.
