Age UK Redbridge Barking and Havering - HWR Community Network

 

Reports

Age UK report on GP Access 

During December 2023 – March 2024, 280 local older people completed our survey on access to GP services in Redbridge.

We redesigned and rerun this survey as we wanted to know if patients are being treated fairly and equally, whether any support meets the wide variety of needs and circumstances and whether there have been any improvements in Redbridge since we first ran the survey in October 2022.

Overall, what has changed, since our 2022 survey

In the Autumn/Winter of 2022 we conducted a very similar survey, with 203 responses. 

What has improved since then? 

• Respondents are now: 
• More likely to get through (by phone) within 10 minutes. 
• More likely to be offered a choice of consultation method. 
• Being seen quicker for emergency appointments. 
• Being seen quicker for routine appointments. 
• More likely to be called back, on time. 
• Generally more satisfied, with remote consultations. 

What has not improved? 

Respondents are now: 

• Less likely to see their clinician of choice. 
• Feel less respected by staff, when booking. 

What else has changed since 2022? 

• We note that use of remote appointments is now considerably more widespread – with 60% of respondents attending one in 2022, rising to 91% in 2024. 
• Use of phones, to book appointments, has declined marginally by 4%.

Click here to read the full report

 

Age UK report on Social Isolation & Loneliness

During August - November 2023, 120 local people in Redbridge completed our survey on social isolation and loneliness.

Findings reveal that poor health is a leading cause of isolation, and that those in good health, are much less likely to be affected.

Of the respondents citing poor health, three quarters (73%) say they often feel isolated, two thirds (64%) lack companionship, go out just once a week (or less), or have poor life satisfaction, and almost half (45%) feel ‘left out’ and have inadequate support networks.

We have heard about a lack of awareness on what is available, a lack of support or difficulty with costs, poor self-esteem and motivation, and family, friends or neighbours who are ‘too busy’ to assist.

More generally, we are told that coping after bereavement can be difficult, and take a long time, and that the evenings can be especially difficult.

There is a difference between the genders – women are more likely to lack companionship and to feel ‘left out’ while men are more likely to feel isolated, and as a whole, are ‘less satisfied’ with life.

On households, we are surprised to find that those living alone, are less likely to feel isolated, and also go out more often - than those living with others.

Click here to read the full report.

 

 

During April - August 2023, 121 older people in Redbridge completed our survey on digital skills. The survey aimed to understand how comfortable people are with using digital technology and what areas they may need more support or training in. It also aimed to identify whether people feel digitally excluded from some services and activities and how this impacts on their daily lives.

 

We found that the older people are, the less likely they are, to own a digital device, or to have the skills and confidence to make the most out of them.

 

For example, fewer than half of respondents aged 75 – 89 (47%) own a smart-phone, this compares with 78% for those aged 65 – 74, and 100% for 50 – 64 year olds. On skills, just 39% of those aged 75 – 89 feel confident to use their smart-phone, comparing with 69% for respondents aged 50 – 64.

 

This sort of disadvantage, along with the rapid move to online-only services, has clearly resulted in inequality and exclusion. Services with an online access requirement have been problematic for 36% of respondents (again many of them older) and just 33% were offered an alternative access method.

 

We have heard accounts of staff insisting on the online method, with advice to ‘get family or friends to help’. When someone has outlined difficulties with technology, we feel that this kind of approach is inappropriate, and unreasonable. There should always be an alternative and people should always be supported