Healthwatch East Sussex Attend the Eastbourne 999 Display Weekend

Over the weekend (12th and 13th of July) members of the Healthwatch East Sussex team attended the Eastbourne 999 event on Western Lawns, which was an opportunity for us to listen to the views and experiences of members and find out what they thought of local health and care.

Healthwatch East Sussex team attend Eastbourne 999 show

Over the two days we spoke to more than 200 people.

We heard:

A range of feedback on the challenges of accessing some local services, such as GPs and Dentists, with frustrations around waits for appointments and referrals, but generally good care once accessed.
Positive experiences of care, particularly for young children at dentists and hospitals.
Good quality of care and experiences of ambulances, paramedics and other emergency services, but concerns over delays.
Delays at some pharmacies, leading to waits for prescriptions, due to lack of staff.
Poor communication between some services, especially between GPs and hospitals, mental health services and pharmacies.
Challenges getting suitable adaptations e.g. people with hearing impairments only getting offered phone appointments.

The 999 Emergency Services Display Event, is an annual community event organised by Sussex Police, East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, South East Coast Ambulance Service, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, RNLI and supported by Eastbourne Borough Council. Throughout the weekend members of the community had the opportunity to meet members of the emergency services and get an up-close look at 999 response vehicles.