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