Community/local services
A common concern was about which services are available locally. There were fears of having to travel further. For some this would be a problem due to costs, transport difficulties or mobility and fitness. There were worries things are being centralised with little or no consultation with local communities. We also heard about communities where a healthcare service or building is central to them and how we could do more to use that influence, working with people to support them to be resilient and healthy.
Inequity and inequalities
We heard that people felt there was not always fair access to services in Grampian. There were fears of access becoming a “postcode lottery” with differences in care depending on where someone lived.
We also heard about other challenges faced by some people. These included language barriers and fears of being judged. You told us about community organisations who support these groups and a wish for us to work more closely with these partners to ensure everyone can get the care they need.
Green spaces
When we asked people what helps them stay healthy, a common answer was being able to get outside in green space. This could be to exercise or just to connect with nature and get fresh air. We need to protect our green spaces to support the physical and mental wellbeing of the people of Grampian.
Along with our responsibilities as an NHS Board, this led us to the three priorities of