Report identifies the need for better access to health and social care services in Boscombe

News - 27 February 2025

We have published a new report, which presents insights into the experiences of residents accessing health, social and community care services.

Our report, Boscombe Voices: Shaping better health and social care in Dorset's local communities, aims to shape the development of Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) in Boscombe and across Dorset, ensuring that services are more responsive to community needs.

Boscombe is the second pilot area identified by Dorset's Integrated Care System (ICS) for the development of INTs. Census data identifies areas of Boscombe as being among the most deprived in Southwest England, and high levels of deprivation play a significant role in health inequalities.

During summer 2024, we engaged with around 180 Boscombe residents at local community groups and settings, gathering valuable feedback on their experiences with local services; several themes emerged.

Key findings

Difficulty booking appointments: Long phone waiting times and a lack of available appointments make it challenging for residents to access primary care.
Lack of face-to-face GP appointments: Many patients prefer in-person consultations but are often only offered phone appointments or referred to a nurse instead of a GP.
NHS dental care shortages: Residents are struggling to find NHS dentists and cannot afford private care.
Specialist services access issues: While some specialist services work well, such as drug and alcohol support and postpartum care, access to community mental health support and treatment for leg ulcers remain difficult.
Social care challenges: Frequent changes in social workers and their lack of local knowledge are impacting families in need of consistent support.

Recommendations for change

We used these findings to outline recommendations to help the ICS shape the INT for Boscombe and ensure it meets the community’s needs effectively:

Improve access to GPs and NHS dental services: INTs should enhance access to primary care and provide clear, understandable information about available services.
Strengthen community mental health services: Greater collaboration with the local voluntary sector is needed to improve information and access, and ensure continuity of care for mental health support.
Ensure continuity in social care: Stability and continuity of social workers is essential to build relationships and provide better support for families.
Commit to ongoing community engagement: Continuous involvement of residents in shaping local services will help deliver proactive and personalised care in the community.

Making a difference

Announcing the report, Louise Bate, Healthwatch Dorset Manager, said: "This report is an important step in ensuring that local services are designed with the needs of the community in mind. We have shared our findings with Our Dorset and the Integrated Care Board (ICB) to amplify the voices of Boscombe residents and inform the development of INTs. I'd like to thank everyone who shared their story with us and to all the local community groups who supported this project."

Jack Blankley, Community Development Manager at BCP Council, welcomed the report: "It's clear from this report how accessing services is a real issue for residents in Boscombe and that local services need to reconsider how individuals access their support. It also raises important questions for policymakers on how best to invest in preventative services within neighbourhoods to address the wider social determinants of health to try and reduce the demands on both local council and NHS services. Without trying to understand the perspective of people who live and work in local communities, INTs will not be able to deliver the change that the NHS desperately needs."

Sally Northeast, Associate Director Communications and Public Engagement, Dorset HealthCare University NHS Trust said: "This engagement with the community in Boscombe is incredibly helpful and is in line with the way we plan to work with local people around the county to shape services in their area. The themes identified here will be included in the information pack which will help us tailor the INTs work around the needs people have identified."