Accessibility to Healthcare Services in Maldon Central, Dengie & South Woodham Ferrers INT Area

Published: 30 June 2025

The South Woodham Ferrers Health & Social Care Group has published their independent academic report about Accessibility to Healthcare Services in the area.

The patients in this survey use GP surgeries (81.1%), general and acute hospitals (78%), community hospitals (73.2%), diagnostic tests (72%), pharmacies (69.7%) and dental services (64.6%). This wide-ranging report identifies four central themes:

• Transport barriers to accessing healthcare services
• Fragmented coordination and communication
• Service planning, policy and funding constraints, and
• Recommendations and opportunities for integrated and collaborative solutions.

The study provides important insights into what patients and carers based in this area have to do to access healthcare. It highlights:

• The multi-faceted nature of physical access
• Access to services such as GPs and hospitals is not only about distance, but also has structural, logistical and communicative barriers
• Transport difficulties, particularly for those reliant on public transport, and parking limitations for motorists are key challenges
• Communication, flexibility and cross-sector collaboration must improve.

To View the Report click on the link  HERE