Improving access to urgent and emergency care
Urgent care
Urgent care is for people who need treatment for an urgent but non life-threatening problem caused by an accident or illness. Urgent care services include Minor Injury Units (MIUs), Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs), Out of Hours GP referral services, and NHS 111. Urgent care might also be provided by your GP, pharmacy, dentist, or optician.
Emergency care
Emergency care is for serious injuries and life-threatening emergencies only. It is provided by Emergency Departments in hospitals, also known as A&E or casualty, and by the ambulance service
What’s your experience of urgent and emergency care in Gloucestershire?
What do we want to know?
We want to find out what you know about the different types of urgent and emergency care services available in Gloucestershire, and how you use these services. We want to hear about your experiences to learn what works well and what could be done differently to help you get the care you need.
Why are we asking?
The pressure on urgent and emergency care services has been growing for some time, both nationally and locally. Healthwatch England has found this is negatively affecting patient experience and people are losing confidence in these vital services.
In recent months, many people have told us about their negative experiences of urgent and emergency care in Gloucestershire. This includes waiting hours for an ambulance or being held for long periods in queues outside A&E, being told to transport themselves to hospital, and most commonly, waiting for hours in A&E with no indication of how long they will be there.
How will your feedback make a difference?
We will use your feedback to help NHS Gloucestershire understand how to support local people to get the right care, at the right time, from the right service. If you know which service to use and you are confident that you will get the care you need from that service, you are more likely to choose well; this can lead to better outcomes for you and help reduce pressure on other urgent and emergency care services.
It’s easy to share your views
Complete our confidential survey by 22 December 2023
Online: smartsurvey.co.uk/s/GloucestershireUEC
Request a paper copy or feedback over the phone.
Phone: 0800 652 5193 (Freephone)
Email: info@healthwatchgloucestershire.co.uk
Talk to us face-to-face
We will be visiting community groups and venues across Gloucestershire to talk to people about their experiences and feedback, and we will also organise online discussion groups. Get in touch to find out more.
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