Need extra support for health appointments?
Everyone should be able to access healthcare without barriers and with information that’s clear and easy to understand.
Our latest project aims to understand people’s experiences, highlight what’s working well, and call for improvements where needed.
We’re building on what you previously told us matters, including our accessible information report (2022), which explored whether people could understand the information they received, and our GP website check-up report (2023), which looked at how clear and easy to use GP practice websites were.
That’s why we’re now reaching out to hear from people about their experiences of health appointments.
What we're doing
We’re gathering people’s experiences of a recent health appointment, such as GP, dental, or hospital appointments, to understand what reasonable adjustments are in place and where they might be missing.
Reasonable adjustments are changes or help that make appointments easier to access. These might include:
- step-free access
- clear information
- interpreters or communication support
- flexible booking or appointment times
We’ll use what you tell us to make practical recommendations and share our findings with local services, asking them how they plan to respond and take action.
Tell us what worked well
We don’t just want to hear about barriers. We also want to hear what has worked well for you.
For example:
- Have staff taken extra time to explain things clearly?
- Have you been offered appointment reminders in a way that suits you?
- Has your GP, dentist, or hospital made helpful adjustments, such as quiet waiting spaces or easy-read information?
Positive feedback helps us highlight good practice and show local services what’s making a real difference for people.
Who Healthwatch want to hear from
If you, or someone you support, have any of the following, we would love to hear from you:
- a learning disability (for example, Down’s syndrome)
- a physical disability (for example, cerebral palsy or mobility difficulties)
- a learning difficulty (such as dyslexia or dyspraxia)
- a long-term health condition (for example, diabetes, epilepsy, or chronic pain)
- a sensory impairment (such as sight or hearing loss)
- neurodiversity (for example, autism or ADHD)
- a mental health condition (such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder)
Please tell us whether you were offered any extra help at your health appointments.
Your experiences will help shape practical recommendations to improve local services.
How to share your views
You can share your experiences in the way that suits you best:
Online
Complete the survey at https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/FT5MLT/
Easy Read
You can:
- Print, complete, and post the Easy Read version to: Freepost HEALTHWATCHNORTHYORKSHIRE (no stamp needed).
- Or ask us to post you a copy by calling 01423 788 128 or emailing hello@hwny.co.uk
British Sign Language
Leave feedback through a British Sign Language interpreter on SignLive.
By phone or email
- Phone: Call 01423 788 128.
- Email: hello@hwny.co.uk and we will arrange a time to complete the survey with you over the phone.
By post (standard or large print)
You can print, complete, and return the standard print or large print version to: Freepost HEALTHWATCHNORTHYORKSHIRE (no stamp needed).
In person
Invite us to visit your service or community group to help gather views about accessibility and healthcare.
All feedback is confidential. You don’t need to leave your name, and what you tell us will not affect your care.
The survey is open until 5pm on Wednesday 31 December 2025.
What the survey covers
The survey asks about three main areas. Here’s what we’ll ask you about:
- How appointments are run -for example, whether longer appointment times or flexible scheduling were offered.
- The environment and equipment - such as step-free access or hearing loops.
- How information is shared - for example, using large print, easy-read formats, or clear explanations.
Your answers will help us share good practice and work with local healthcare providers to make sure improvements are followed up and put into action.
Why this matters
Making appointments easier to use is both a legal duty and the right thing to do. By sharing your experience, you will help us show what works, highlight where barriers remain, and point to simple changes that can make a real difference.
We’ll publish a full report in 2026 with clear recommendations. We’ll ask services for how they are responding, what practical steps they are taking or plan to take, so healthcare can become more inclusive and accessible for everyone.
Healthwatch can do this because it has legal powers under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 to ask those in charge of care what they're doing to make it better for everyone.
Thank you for sharing your views and helping us make health appointments easier for everyone in North Yorkshire.
