Conclusions

This survey has revealed huge disquiet among the residents of Northavon constituency about the direction of current thinking by health service managers at local and regional level. Among health service managers it is taken as given that the three main hospital sites in Bristol and South Gloucestershire need to be reduced to two, yet the public simply does not accept that starting premise. Even if the local trusts made their case for change on clinical grounds, there would still be strong local suspicion and opposition. In particular, Northavon residents would be especially hostile to any downgrading of services at Frenchay Hospital – a position at marked variance with the current inclinations of North Bristol NHS Trust.

The survey shows that there clearly is a demand for more local services, including minor injury services and local outpatient appointments. But this demand is not as strong as the view that existing major hospitals should be preserved and, preferably, expanded.

The survey also shows that local people feel largely excluded from the discussions that have taken place so far about the fundamental changes that are planned for local hospitals and health services. The local health community has a huge task in front of it if it is to win over a sceptical public.