BLIND, deaf and disabled patients can face significant problems accessing health care, a report warns today.

National research, including examples from Bradford patients, has led to calls for NHS policy makers to take action.

A study of 550 GP practices and feedback from 11,000 patients revealed that, despite overall satisfaction being high, there were significant issues for some - particularly for those with disabilities.

The Healthwatch England publication - Primary Care - A review of local Healthwatch reports - combines studies by 55 Healthwatch groups, including Healthwatch Bradford and District's 2014 Invisible at the Desk research.

Bradford examples highlighted in the national document include a patient who was removed from her dentist's list and helpful receptionists, which has led to a pilot training scheme being rolled out.

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One Bradford mental health patient said: "I once felt I had spiders crawling all over me. I knew it was all in my head but try explaining that to some bossy woman at the desk who hasn’t the first clue what people with mental health issues have to go through, without half the patients looking round at you."

Health leaders said changes had been made since the publication of Invisible at the Desk.

A spokesman for NHS Bradford City and NHS Bradford Districts Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) said: "Improving patients’ access to primary care services is a priority for us and we have been carrying out some specific work to look at ways to improve waiting times and access to local GP service."

She said the CCGs welcomed the report and had recently offered customer care training to practice reception staff - which had received an enthusiastic response from practice staff, the public and Healthwatch - and invested in a Pharmacy First scheme.

"A lot of work is under way across Bradford to support practices to improve patients’ access and there is a real willingness to share good practice and listen to patients and GPs about the concerns and challenges experienced in General Practice," she added.

Today's report highlights areas which need improvement including physically accessing GP and dentist surgeries, problems making an appointment and communication.

Healthwatch Bradford and District volunteers visited GP practices and identified similar issues.

The organisation runs 'Enter and View' visits which are led by trained volunteers who visit services to give feedback.

Anne-Marie Bentley, 28, who uses a wheelchair and has complex health needs, started volunteering with Healthwatch after experiencing difficulties accessing a number of GP practices in the district.

"It’s simple things, like getting into the building, that they get wrong," Mrs Bentley, of Bingley, said.

"You go through the first set of automatic doors no problem, but the second is a heavy door which I needed to be held open for me – sometimes you’d just have to wait ‘til someone came along and helped you.

"There was a baby gate before the nurse’s room that I couldn’t get through; chairs that completely obstructed my path.

"My current GP practice is much better but there are still barriers. The reception desk is so high, I can’t see over it. They can’t see me, either, so I literally have to wave to get their attention, it seems so unnecessary. I can’t check in using the screen because it’s too high to reach."

Her experiences have been flagged up to NHS Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven Clinical Commissioning Group which commissions health services - although it is not responsible for physical access to buildings.

A spokesman said: "We note that issues around access for our disabled patients have been highlighted at the Keighley practice, which is based in an older, listed building. In buildings of this nature, there are often restrictions regarding alterations and improvements.

"We would like to stress that the CCG supports equal access to GP surgeries for all and encourages its member practices to ensure that the access needs of all members of our communities are met."

Healthwatch Bradford and District said patients' experiences of primary care services was still the number one issue people were talking to it about.

"On top of the well-known problems with getting appointments, we find that certain groups of people are having specific issues, particularly around access and communication," a spokesman said.

"In Bradford, Healthwatch will continue to focus on understanding the experiences of these groups of people, and pushing for every practice in the District to deliver the excellent, person-centred care that we know many already offer."

At a national level, Healthwatch England will be raising these concerns with the Department of Health and NHS policy makers and calling on them to review how improvements can be across the country to ensure everyone has equal access to vital frontline NHS services.