Tinsley: a neighbourhood view of health and care
Much of our work starts by looking at a particular type of health and social care service (for example hospitals, care homes or dental practices) and then working outwards – who uses this service?, what is their experience of it?, how could it work better for them?
When we were consulting with people to set our latest work priority areas, we were prompted by the public to approach health and social care from a different angle. They asked us to look at particular areas in Sheffield, and ask slightly different questions – who lives here?, how easy it is for people living here to get the care and support they need, in all aspects of their lives?
We selected Tinsley to focus on - a small neighbourhood in the North East of Sheffield. We carried out in depth interviews and conversations with around 60 local residents, asking about health and social care services, as well as the wider factors that influence their health and wellbeing.
Our key findings
- There is a huge information and advice need in the area – exacerbated by language and digital barriers
- There’s low awareness and uptake of some services - Adult Social Care and Mental Health support in particular
- Travel barriers to the city centre and other neighbourhoods further worsen people’s access to secondary care and wider support
- The low identification of carers puts additional strain on families
- A shortage of groups and activities in the area means many people’s social wellbeing needs are not being met
The importance of neighbourhoods
Since starting our priority on neighbourhoods, neighbourhood models of care are being posited by the NHS and central government as the future goal for services. This model, outlined in the NHS 10 year plan, relies on statutory services and wider support organisations working together around individuals in the community.
This report therefore has wider relevance - we want to improve health and wellbeing for people living in Tinsley, and also hope that these findings can influence wider work being done to improve population health at a neighbourhood level.
What next?
Based on our findings, we have made a number of recommendations to local and regional service providers and commissioners of health and social care. Where the findings are broader than statutory health and social care services, we will also make sure the report is seen by other stakeholders who are working with communities to improve neighbourhoods in Sheffield.
We will update this page with formal responses from services when we receive them.
Downloads
If you need this report in a different format, please email info@healthwatchsheffield.co.uk or call 0114 253 6688.
