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Consultation on urgent care in Bristol
Health bosses have quashed concerns there will be cuts to urgent care services in Bristol.
Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are working to develop a strategy on emergency services across the area and have launched a survey asking for people’s views.
It comes as the three CCGs prepare to merge on April 1.
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The survey asks the public to tick which services they have used in the past 12 months – including hospital emergency departments, urgent same-day GP appointments, Bristol Eye Hospital and the University of Bristol Dental Hospital.
It also asks if the people are aware of all the services on offer across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
Finally it asks which things are of most importance to patients when they need emergency care.
Options include distance to service, prompt decision-making by health workers and whether services are available seven days a week.
The CCG has said the reason for the survey is to ensure the care being delivered “meets the needs of the local population” and has dismissed concerns it will be used as a tool to axe services.
Dr Lesley Ward, urgent care lead for BNSSG CCG, said: “To help develop our urgent care strategy we are working with the public, partners and providers to ensure future services best meet the needs of the local population.
“We have launched a short survey that will allow us to understand how the public currently use urgent care services and how they make their decisions.
“Public involvement will be crucial in helping us develop our future services and there will be many opportunities to share views and experiences.”
The survey will close at on Monday, April 16. It is available online at www.bristolccg.nhs.uk/get-involved/urgent-care-survey/ or by emailing urgentcare.bnssg@nhs.net.
Kate Wilson is the local democracy reporter for Bristol. Main photo by Matilda Norris.
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