We joined forces with a health and care fair at the Crossgates Shopping Centre to catch up with people in LS15.
We met 15 people at the Cross Gates Big Leeds Chat. What did people say in Crossgates?
One of the most common topics of conversation to come up in Cross Gates was how difficult it was to get a GP appointment. People often felt phone or remote appointments were no substitute when they were offered. While we did hear praise for services such as the hospital, from time to time we also heard about long waiting lists for specialist treatment, as well as how hard it can be to get loved ones’ mental health needs taken seriously.
Family was another big part of our chats in Cross Gates. Oftentimes, family had been a huge source of practical and emotional
support during the dark days of lockdown (as had neighbours and schemes such as Cross Gates Good Neighbours), and people were grateful for the help sons and daughters provided when they had kids of their own to look after. But loved ones and their troubles could be a source of worry too.
There was a sense that the shops in Crossgates had become less interesting in recent times, which made making the trip in less worthwhile.
The locals who chatted to us suggested that changing this would make the area happier and healthier, and there were also a few requests for more things for children and young people to do. People had very mixed views about public transport in Cross Gates, with some saying it didn’t work for them.
What next steps for Cross Gates did our decision-makers take away from their chats?
“Keep investing in neighbourhood networks”
“Look at ways to improve access to GP services or provide / promote alternative ways to access care. e.g. a couple spoke very highly of drop-in blood clinic at Chapel Allerton as an alternative to GP appointment.”
“Look at fitness facilities and how we enable access to those who are less confident in their abilities, or unable to afford fitness access. Reduced rates; local free support targeted to engage and offered with budget advice to sustain.”
“Realising that it is not just older people who struggle with access issues – it’s across all age groups”
“Need to promote support available to carers more widely so that people access it if needed.”
