Broomgrove residents survey results
Did you know you about these services?
Available services
- Active Hastings offer a range of activities at a discounted price to help you stay fit and active. Please visit their website for more information: Hastings Borough Council | Active Hastings
Active Hastings offer a GP Link Worker Service, which provides tailored support for those who have a long term health condition and would like to increase their physical activity. To access this service, you need to contact your GP and ask for a referral to the Active Hastings GP Link Worker Service.
For more information, please visit: About our GP Link Worker Service
- At the Broomgrove Community Centre, Active Hastings offer FREE exercise classes for Broomgrove residents on Tuesdays 10am – 11am. Please visit this link to find out more: Creating a Healthier You | Tuesday | Hastings Borough Council
- Engage Consult (E-Consult) – online consultation with a GP (please ask your local GP for more information)
- Callback system (please ask your local GP for more information)
- NHS APP: it contains health advice (Health A to Z) and appointment booking service, as well as repeat prescription requests and booking your vaccinations. Please visit the following link to find out more: About the NHS App - NHS
- Wellcare Pharmacy on the Broomgrove estate can support you if you are experiencing symptoms of one of these 7 common conditions: sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bite, impetigo, shingles, urinary tract infection
- The family hub in broomgrove offer a range of services including baby stay and play groups, support groups for mothers with a child under 12 months and are experiencing post-natal depression or anxiety. Please visit the following link to find out more: Hastings - East Hastings Family Hub | Family hubs
- One You East Sussex offers a range of services at the Family Hub in Broomgrove. Please visit the following link to find out more: One You East Sussex | Free Health & Wellbeing Service
Support
Financial Support:
If you would like to access advice on what financial support on what is available to you including welfare benefits, grants, energy advice, and debt, please visit any of the following sites:
Benefit calculators:
Entitled To – This site will tell you which welfare benefits you are entitled to based on the information you provide.
Turn2Us – This site will tell you which welfare benefits you are entitled to based on the information you provide.
The following sites provides you with advice on financial support available to you based on your circumstances:
Lightning Reach – once you set up an account, you can get a personalised list of support options, including help with energy bills, fuel vouchers, local schemes, grants etc
Benefits – This is a government site which gives you information on welfare benefits you could be entitled to based on your circumstances. This includes financial support:
- if you are unable to work or looking to work,
- To support your family
- If you are disabled or have a health condition
- If you care for someone
- If you are on a low income
Universal Credit Support (uc-helper.co.uk) – Please visit this link to see if you are entitled to universal credit and for a step by step guide to help you through the application process.
Debt Advice:
There are various charities who can help you manage your debts. Please visit the links below for debt advice:
Foodbanks:
With the current cost of living pressures, some people may struggle to afford food. Foodbanks can supply you with necessities. Please visit the link below to find foodbanks near you and if there are any eligibility requirements.
Support for carers:
There are various organisations and welfare benefits who provide support if you are a carer. Please visit the links below to find out more:
Care for the Carers - Supporting carers in East Sussex – This organisation offers advice on available support and organise activities so carers can take a break
Benefits and financial support if you're caring for someone - GOV.UK – This is a government site which provides you with information on welfare benefits that you may be entitled to if you care for someone.
Winter Readiness including support with healthcare costs:
Citizens Advice have created a page to help you prepare for winter! The page includes information on energy saving tips and advice, tips to stay warm, support with healthcare costs including prescriptions, healthcare travel, eye and dental care costs! Please visit the link below to find out more: Winter Readiness
Transport:
There are various schemes to support you with public transport. For more
information, please visit:
Transport | East Sussex County Council
It can be difficult to navigate the information around financial support and the support you may be entitled to. Citizens Advice can offer free advice if you need support navigating these.
Contact us - Citizens Advice – Please visit their website to get in touch
Are you housed by Southern Housing? Did you know that they offer specific support to their residents?
Southern Housing offer a wide range of services to support their residents. This includes advice on energy saving tips, financial support, support with using digital services and more! Please visit the link below to find out more and to get in touch with the team: Support for our residents
If you are experiencing any housing related issues, please get in touch with your Housing association.
Survey Introduction
A survey was distributed in April – July 2024 in Broomgrove to identify key challenges in accessing healthcare services.
Health conditions
The majority of respondents had at least one or more long term health condition
Carers
Nearly half of the respondents were carers
**Please note that not all Broomgrove residents took part in the survey, which means that the results presented cannot be generalised and this study is subject to limitations. **
What is working well for you
- The majority of the respondents know where to go if they’re experiencing a health problem – most selected option was GP surgery
- Just over 80% of participants were happy with the services they received at the pharmacy
- The majority of participants felt they were treated fairly
by healthcare practitioners - Accessing social services, dentists and the pharmacy
was easy for the majority of participants
What you said is challenging when accessing healthcare:
Cost
Costs associated to dental treatment and costs of missing work were reported as the main financial barriers to accessing healthcare
Transport
Using public transport is challenging because of delays and cancellations, this leads to extra costs due to paying for taxis or unable
to attend appointments which can lead to delays in getting medication
Appointments
- Many commented that accessing GP (or specialist) appointments is difficult because it’s hard to get through phonelines and because people can’t make appointments due to time restrictions because of employment
and childcare - Accessing GP appointments seems to be even harder for people
with disabilities
Communication
- Some people who are neurodiverse commented that communicating with healthcare professionals can be overwhelming
- Some people with long term conditions, mental health conditions and people from an ethnic minority background felt they were treated unfairly
Awareness about support
There is limited understanding on how to navigate the benefit system to access financial support for healthcare (such as exemption for medication costs)
What we are doing for you
- Share findings with local partners to identify feasible solutions:
- We are working with the Passenger Transport Team at East Sussex County Council to establish what can be done to break down transport barrier in accessing health care services
- Joint Commissioning Team in Adult Social Care (East Sussex County Council) is currently developing East Sussex Autism Action Plan and it is due to be published in early 2025. One of the priorities identified by stakeholders is to improve guidance and information on neurodiversity for healthcare settings
- Discussions are ongoing with local NHS leaders healthcare colleagues to address some of the issues listed
- An asthma clinic for Children and Young People is being piloted at the Family Hub and an evaluation will inform further plans.
- Increase awareness of local support including financial assistance for healthcare costs - Winter Readiness
What you can do to help make change happen
Continue to get involved in local research and initiatives to share your experiences and voice your needs.
Feel free to report any issues or concerns related to healthcare access to:
- Jackie (Broomgrove Community Centre manager) - Oasis@orevalley.co.uk
- Tash (Broomgrove Community Development worker from Hastings Voluntary Action) - tash@hastingsvoluntaryaction.org.uk