Sussex Interpreting Services' Service User Views and Experiences

Summary of participants' views and experiences

Accident and Emergency: 

• Most participants (approx. 30) used the Accident and Emergency service at the Hospital because they thought it is the best service to use for urgent help, with a number of participants (approx.20) accessing the service because they particularly needed help out of hours.
• Most of the participants (approx. 35) thought that their experience at Accident and Emergency had been either good or very good.

Hospital Discharge 

• The majority of participants had waited 2-4 hours to be discharged. A significant number (approx. 15) however felt that this was too long to be waiting.
• Additionally, almost half of those discharged felt that could have been given better or more information about services they could access that could offer them support to recover and/or manage their condition better.
• Having better or more information available could help increase patients confidence in looking after themselves/being looked after

Healthy Living 

• Almost all participants exercised at least once or twice a week, with a fair proportion exercising more often than this.
• A reasonable proportion (approx.32) however feel that they do not have, or do not have enough, access to opportunities to exercise.
• The vast majority of participants felt that they have enough access to information about how to cook healthily; only a few participants felt they didn’t have enough information.

Physiotherapy Service: 

• Exactly half the participants (approx. 50) had been referred to a physiotherapy service, and for half of these (approx. 25) they had, had to wait for 2-3 months for their first appointment.
• This was felt to be too long to wait for most who had waited this length of time or longer. Almost half of participants (approx. 20) felt they were not given enough information about their physiotherapy treatment.

GP Services: 

• Most participants felt that they were able to get an appointment with their GP relatively easily when they needed it.
• However, 21% (approx. 16) participants felt it was difficult to get an appointment with their GP when they needed it.
• If participants can’t access a GP they are using the Walk in centre or GP out of hour’s service instead.
• Most participants have some confidence in the care provided by their GP, however 21% (approx. 16) lacked confidence in the care being provided.