We're All Ears: The Result

Here's what you told us…

What is "We're All Ears"?

In September 2008 NHS Hull began one of the largest health-related listening exercises ever carried out with the residents of Hull.
We wanted to find out what people wanted from their local health services and how they felt NHS Hull could help them improve their health and well-being.
We started off with a telephone survey, speaking to 1500 people in Hull about their health; their understanding of NHS Hull; whether they thought NHS Hull was listening to them and what they would like NHS Hull to provide if money was no object. We then held a number of events to find out more information about what people wanted for health and healthcare services now and in the future.
During this process we spoke to lots of different people from all parts of our community.

What did it tell us?

We found out that some of the most important issues for residents are:

• access to an NHS dentist
• more GP appointments at more convenient times
• clean hospitals
• free health "MOTs"
• better information and communication about services generally
• planning and support for the elderly
• better education for people of all ages about keeping healthy and fit, both physically and mentally
• better and more suitable facilities/buildings
• more support in areas which have an impact on peoples' health, such as better housing, transport, childcare and access to training.

The huge amount of information gathered covered areas where action had already been taken, such as increasing access to GPs and dentists. This told us that we need to better publicise these improvements as not enough people know about them. It also covered areas currently being addressed, such as improving facilities, health education and health promotion. It also helped us to see the areas in which more needs to be done.

Aspirations for health

Once we had gathered some general views, we surveyed a further 10,000 Hull residents to find out more about several specific areas that people had said were important to them. We talked to people in shopping centres, community centres, schools and colleges, on doorsteps, by telephone, though local voluntary and community organisations and online. People were asked how important eleven key statements were for the community as a whole and also which services/ideas they personally would use. The responses can be seen in the below graph:

What happens next?

The results of the We're All Ears project will be used to influence the decisions made by NHS Hull over the next five years.

A detailed action plan, setting out what we are doing to act on what the people of Hull have told us during the We're All Ears project, has now been drawn up and this will be reviewed and updated regularly.

You can see our reports, action plan and other information by logging on to our special We're All Ears website at www.nhshullears.net or call the Patient and Public Involvement team on: (01482) 344739/email: ppi@hullpct.nhs.uk

For information on local health care services visit the NHS Choices website at www.nhs.uk