Reports Hub

Digital booking is changing GP access – but some people are still struggling to get appointments

Many people across Birmingham and Solihull told us they couldn’t book a GP appointment because their practice relied on online‑only systems. For those who can’t get online or need extra support, this meant real difficulty accessing care when they needed it most. 

Every care home has its own story, shaped by the people who live and work there. As demand for care continues to grow, it’s more important than ever to understand what life is really like for residents. 

Our new report shares the voices of Solihull care home residents and their families, highlighting what’s working well and where improvements are still needed.

Healthwatch Birmingham and Solihull heard from over 1,000 people about their experiences of Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs).

We partnered with the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) to support their review of UTCs, and your feedback is already making a difference. Our findings are shaping how urgent care will be delivered in the future by directly informing the ICB’s review and upcoming consultation.

We heard from people across the city who receive care in their own homes. People praised carers for being kind, respectful and professional, and pointed to everyday factors that make the biggest difference: seeing familiar staff, being told when visit times change, carers with the right skills for specific needs, and care plans that are reviewed and kept up to date. We gathered feedback through an online survey and conversations at local community venues.

This report explores women’s experiences of menopause advice and treatment from GP practices in Solihull. It highlights inconsistent information, limited access to specialist support, and a lack of awareness among some healthcare professionals. Healthwatch Solihull will continue to work with NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB and other partners to raise awareness, improve service accessibility, and support the development of better menopause care across the area.

This investigation explores patient and carer involvement in hospital discharge decisions across Birmingham, highlighting gaps in communication, planning, and support.

This report examines the positive and negative experiences of patients going through the NHS referral pathway in Birmingham.

This investigation examines the barriers and challenges for children and young people on the Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and ADHD assessment and diagnostic pathways in Birmingham.

“Those of us who support families with neurodivergent children know how hard it is to get the right support due to delays in assessment and diagnosis. We hear the stories daily, and we are desperate for the situation to change. This report gives us data to quote and highlights the areas that need to improve. It gives strength to our arm when campaigning for change.”

Nora Young, Founder of BREWS Education

(Birmingham Resilience Education and Wellbeing Services CIC)

This report analyses the experiences of over 500 people who have used NHS Community Pharmacy services in Birmingham.

This report explores Solihull residents’ experiences of using community pharmacies following the launch of the Pharmacy First scheme in January 2024. While feedback was largely positive, key barriers included limited public awareness of services, low confidence in receptionist referrals, and concerns about privacy in consultation spaces. Healthwatch Solihull will monitor progress and continue working with NHS partners to support improvements and ensure services meet local needs.