- Nearly 90% (87%) of people in England want to see improvements in health and social care services
- But 1 in 5 (19%) people believe they don't have time to report on their health and social care experiences
- More than half would like to use their time more productively (53%), with two in five (42%) feeling guilty about taking the time to relax instead of completing small tasks
- A third of people from England think about their health on a daily basis
This Share for Better Care Week (24 February – 2 March), Dr Ranj is teaming up with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Healthwatch England (HWE) to urge people across England to take three spare minutes to feed back on their recent health and social care experiences.
The appeal follows new research, which found that nine in ten people (87%) in England want to see improvements in health and social care services.
A third of people think about their health every single day, yet one in five (19%) say they don’t have enough time to report on their health and social care experiences. The average person estimates that it takes almost nine minutes to give feedback when, in reality, it can take as little as three minutes.
The campaign aims to make more people aware of how they can give feedback and highlight the spare moments in people's days that they could use to do this - for example whilst waiting for the kettle to boil or waiting for a train or bus.
The poll reveals that the average person spends nearly two hours a day scrolling on their phone – doubling to nearly four hours for those under the age of 24, highlighting that many people have more opportunities to feedback than they think. The research also found that 53% of people would like to use their free time more productively, with two in five (42%) feeling guilty about not completing more small tasks.
Sharing feedback on health and social care is one such small task that can make a big difference. Public feedback can play a vital role in helping health and social care services identify ways to make support better - for example making GP services more accessible, or ensuring clinics have the right equipment available for individual needs. However, only a minority of people have provided feedback to care services.
To help improve health and social care across England, Dr Ranj, CQC and Healthwatch England have launched Share for Better Care Week to encourage everyone to spare as little as 3 minutes to share their care experiences.
Dr. Ranj Singh, said: “Health is the foundation of our lives. However, this survey shows that while a third of us think about our health daily, few provide the essential feedback on the healthcare we receive. As a doctor, this feedback is indispensable, it reveals patient experiences, pinpoints areas for improvement, and, ultimately, enhances the quality of care. In my role I’ve heard so many patient stories, whether it is positive experience or constructive feedback. Sharing that feedback is what will make a real difference.”
To find out more about Share for Better Care Week, or to share your feedback, visit the CQC website or Healthwatch website.