Specially trained Community Volunteers from Bourne worked with community members to find out why some people don’t attend NHS appointments. An illustrator wote down what was said and made draft sketches of what she saw. The final drawings were on display at Bourne Community Hub where some of the people who took part met to talk about the project. People involved in the project in Bourne said that the artist blended into background, that nobody minded being drawn as they would not be easily recognisable and that this was far less intrusive than having somebody taking photographs. They felt able to speak freely about reasons for not attending appointments and suggest changes that could be made.

The illustrations and words show the barriers some people face when trying to make an NHS appointment as well as some changes that would help them.

Common themes that put people off attending appointments were:

• Being sent an appointment time and date that you might not be able to make and not knowing how to change it
• Assumptions being made that everyone can book appointments online
• Finding it hard to convince Receptionists that you need an appointment

Suggestions for enabling people to attend appointments included:

• Being able to see the same Doctor each time you go
• Being supported to attend by someone like a chaperone or advocate who understands your difficulties and help
• Talking to a person rather than filling out a form to get an appointment
Please take a look at some of the pictures from the project to find out more.

The report from Poole Communities Trust, and reports from other community groups involved in the project are being shared with Public Health Dorset so next steps can be taken. We’ll bring you more news when we have it.