Experiences of inclusion health groups in Lincolnshire

What we set out to achieve

We aimed to understand the experiences, barriers, and priorities of people from Inclusion Health groups across Lincolnshire to inform the development of the Inclusion Health work.

Our goal was to ensure that the voices of those who often face the greatest health inequalities, including people experiencing homelessness, people who use drug or alcohol services, refugees and asylum seekers, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities and people involved in the criminal justice system, were heard.

The involvement work sought to:
• Gather insight into how well existing health and care services meet people’s needs
• Identify specific barriers preventing people from accessing care
• Understand what good and poor experiences look like
• Highlight what needs to change to improve access, experience, outcomes and equity
• Ensure lived experience informs the development and future direction of this work

What we did

Between September and October 2025, we carried out a variety of engagement methods, which included:

Online Survey
• 73 online survey responses
• Respondents included people experiencing homelessness, those using substance support services, ex-offenders, refugees and asylum seekers, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, and people not identifying with an Inclusion Health group
• Some respondents identified with multiple groups

Community conversations
• We met with people face to face in settings where they already feel supported. Across these settings, we gathered rich, narrative insight into lived experience, challenges and local issues.

Engagement with professionals & support staff
• We spoke to staff who provide support to people from Inclusion Health groups

What you told us

Access to services
Experiences varied widely across groups, but common themes emerged:
• GP, dental and mental health services were the hardest to access
• Waiting times, particularly long delays for appointments, were a universal challenge
• Many people said they don’t try to get help due to previous negative experiences or fear of being judged

Barriers
Across different groups, the most significant barriers included:
• Mental health difficulties making it hard to seek or maintain contact
• Long waiting times for appointments or procedures
• Digital exclusion; limited access to devices, data or digital confidence
• Transport and cost challenges
• Language barriers
• Fear of judgement, stigma or discrimination, especially among those using drug and alcohol services, sex workers and the GRT community
• Lack of continuity, repeatedly telling their story, difficulty navigating systems

Good experiences
People described positive experiences when:
• Staff listened, showed kindness, patience, understanding and took concerns seriously
• Care was consistent, face-to-face, and proactive
• Home visits or outreach were available
• Support workers helped people attend or navigate appointments

Poor experiences
Common negative themes included:
• Feeling rushed, not listened to, dismissed or judged
• A&E and GP waits leading to deterioration and frustration
• Poor communication, fragmented care and digital only pathways
• Lack of interpretation
• Systems that felt difficult, rigid or inaccessible

The difference it’s made

Your feedback has helped shape our approach to Inclusion Health and is informing ongoing work across the system.

Key impacts include:
• Insight has been presented to the Inclusion Health Oversight Group to shape priorities and strategic direction
• Engagement findings are being used to improve understanding across health and care partners

This work is ongoing, and updates will continue as it progresses

What’s next

• Learning from engagement has been captured to inform next stages of Inclusion Health work
• Emerging themes will be explored with stakeholders to inform future activity
• Further engagement with Inclusion Health communities will help test ideas, ensure changes are meaningful, and close the feedback loop
• Updates will be shared via the ICB website as work progresses