Consultation and Engagement
This section is used to summarise the views of the public, dedicated groups and service users. It can make use of formal assessment of views, such as obtained from surveys, feedback meetings and focus groups.
In 2024, Hartlepool Borough Council undertook "The Big Conversation" with residents, some responses can be linked to Oral Health.
Respondents to the Big Conversation felt access to health services to be a major issue by respondents. There was a high level of frustration expressed by many respondents around the difficulties in accessing GPs and NHS dentists.
“If I was able to get a doctor’s appointment or a dentist appointment, even consults are hard to get now, even sexual health is near impossible to access since it was taken out of the one life.” Survey respondent (what would improve your health and wellbeing)