What families told us about local healthcare services
The local Parent Carer Forums asked families in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire about their experiences of local healthcare for their children.
Thank you to all families who shared their views.
We heard some clear themes:
- services are not joined up
- families are waiting a long time for help
- families feel their children’s mental health needs are not being met
- many families are paying for private support
- health input into EHCPs is not working well
We are using what families told us to shape how services are changing.
This work is feeding directly into the Children’s Community Health Services (CCHS) recommissioning process. This is when services are redesigned and contracts are reviewed.
We are:
- making sure your experiences are shared clearly with commissioners
- pushing for services to work together, not in silos
- challenging long waiting times and gaps in support
- asking for clearer communication with families
- pushing for health services to meet their duties in EHCPs
We are also:
- working with health and local authority partners
- making sure the parent carer voice is part of decision-making
- holding services to account for what families have told us
This is a key chance to influence how services work in the future.
We will keep you updated as this work moves forward.