Exploring parental experience and barriers to improve health visiting service provision

Health inequalities continue to pose a significant challenge across the UK, with communities that experience deprivation often facing disproportionately poorer health outcomes. As part of the universal public health offer, health visiting services are uniquely positioned to address these disparities through early intervention and sustained engagement with families. This article explores the role of patient experience, particularly the voices of parents and carers, in influencing service development to improve health equity and outcomes. Drawing on a service improvement project from Tameside in Greater Manchester, England, the article illustrates how community engagement and focus groups were used to identify barriers to accessing health visiting services. Through co-production with families, the service was able to develop solutions aimed at enhancing accessibility, responsiveness and cultural relevance. The findings highlight the vital importance of listening to local populations and integrating their lived experiences into service transformation efforts, particularly in areas of high deprivation.