Help local people speak up about eye care

Guidance - 11 July 2024

Find out about our new research project and how to get involved using the research and communications resources provided for you.

Background
What are we doing
Activity timeline
Ways to get involved
Resources

Background

As part of our #ShareForBetterCare campaign, we are launching a national drive to learn about people's eye care experiences.

Eye care is an area where we’re hearing that people are facing long waits and high costs for care. There’s also evidence that eye care and related health issues disproportionately affect specific communities, such as those on low incomes, as well as ethnic minority groups.

That’s why it’s important we understand the eye care challenges people are facing and how to make sure people get timely and affordable access to eye care when they need it. But to do this we need your help.

What are we doing?

On the 29 July 2024, we will launch a survey which aims to:

Understand people’s experience of accessing eye care locally, as well as the experience of those waiting for secondary care.
Uncover what is working but also the barriers people face, like cost.

We want to hear from everyone, but we especially want to reach:

People from ethnic minority communities, including Black African, Black Caribbean and South Asian communities. This is because people from these groups are at a greater risk of developing some of the leading causes of sight loss.
People who may not have a large household income because of the barriers they may face.
People waiting for secondary care to understand their experience.

When is this taking place?

29 July 2024: We will launch our survey.
29 July – 7 August 2024: The first activity spike will run for one week, focusing on PR and social media channels.
2-8 September 2024: The second activity spike will focus on social media and stakeholder outreach.
23-29 September 2024: The third and final activity spike will take place during Eye Care Week and focus on community outreach and social media.
w/c 2 December 2024 (TBC): We will share our local and national findings.

How can you get involved?

We will provide you with communications resources including social media posts and visual assets, an email template, press notice and website story. You can send the press notice to your local press and publish the website story on your local website, to help promote the survey in your area.

If you use Smart Survey and want a copy of the survey to use locally, please email us to arrange at research@healthwatch.co.uk

Some content is still in development and will be updated closer to the launch date – so please check back in for new information and resources.

Please contact the Healthwatch England communications team with any questions: hub@healthwatch.co.uk

Ways to get involved?

Promote the survey. Collect responses from people in your area to help shape our work.
Issue a press notice to your local media.
Publish the news story on your website advertising the survey.
Email local optometrist services and community groups asking for support to share the survey.
Ask your local council and NHS to share resources.
Post social content or re-share our message.
Go out into the community during Eye Care Week (23-29 September) to collect people's experiences.