Healthwatch Listening Tour 2025/26: Summary Report
The Introduction outlines our approach to the Listening Tour in 2025/26 and outline the number of people we spoke to and how we heard from them.
The Differences and Common Themes are based on the feedback from the Rother and Eastbourne Listening Tours, with area-specific reports for both Rother and Eastbourne being published in February 2026 and May 2026 respectively.
This report makes six recommendations based on the common themes identified between areas:
- Accessing primary care: There is a need for GP practices to be supported to implement “You and Your GP” guidance to improve patient access
- Communication: There is a need to improve communication between NHS and Adult Social Care services
- Mental health and neurodiversity: There is a need to improve communication around waiting times and support during the waiting period for mental health services
- Mental health and neurodiversity: There is a need for all healthcare services to consider how they can make their services more accessible for people who are neurodivergent or have a mental health need
- Community and social groups: There is a need for information about local activities and groups to be available in a variety of locations and formats
- Changes to services: There is a need to ensure the public, patients and services are engaged with regarding potential changes to services.
Future of the Listening Tour
Following the announcement in 2025 proposing the abolition of Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch, we have taken the decision not to undertake any further Listening Tours in 2026-27. We instead aim to focus on looking at ways we can engage groups we hear from less frequently, alongside undertaking Healthwatch projects and wider Healthwatch engagement across East Sussex.
Finally, we would like to thank everyone that contributed to the delivery of our Listening Tour and to the public and patients who shared their experiences.
