Citizens panel survey report
November 2010
Volunteering, effects of the
economy and budgets
This report was prepared by
Elise Carroll
Research and intelligence advisor
Policy Department
01254 585693
elise.carroll@blackburn.gov.uk
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Section
Topic
Page number
Executive Summary
2
1
Introduction
3
2
The survey sample
3
3
Results
3.1
Volunteering
6
3.2
Impact of the current economic climate
7
Perceptions of income and financial
situation
7
Council and NHS budgets
15
3.3.1
Council budget
15
3.3.5
NHS budget
20
Social Media use
25
Further information
25
3.2.1
3.3
3.4
4
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Executive Summary
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This Citizens Panel was weighted by age and geographical location of the
respondents.
One in five respondents stated that they had volunteered with a club or organisation
for at least once a month or more
People who live in the most 10% deprived areas of the borough formally volunteer
less than people who live in the least deprived areas.
Just under a quarter said that they were living comfortably on their current income.
Over half the respondents said that they were coping
Over one in five survey participants said that they were finding it difficult or very
difficult on their current household income.
Seven out of every ten respondents said that they were ‘fairly’ or ‘very’ concerned
about their financial situating in the coming year.
Three in every four respondents (74.2%) agreed (strongly or tended to) that in the last
year they had been spending less, by cutting back on luxuries and some of the things
they like to do.
68.4% strongly or tended to agree that they were more anxious or worried about their
finances than a year ago
Bin collections, libraries and museums, leisure centres and schools were the four
services used most by respondents in the last six months.
Just over one in six respondents (16.3%) did not list a specific council service that
should be protected from cuts in spending, saying that they couldn’t say or couldn’t
choose a service.
Of the participants who specified a service, the most mentioned were:
 Education (16.3%)
 Bins / refuse collection (14.1%)
 Care Services (12.0%)
 Leisure services / facilities (11.2%)
When asked about what services should be reduced, 57.6% could not specify specific
services. When asked about what services should be cut, 77.5% did not specify any
and 9.7% said that there shouldn’t be any cuts.
Around four in every nine respondents said that they had used the services of a GP in
the last 6 months.
15.6% of survey participants couldn’t identify particular NHS services that should be
protected from the budget squeeze, 14.4% said there should be not cuts.
Of those who named a service, 14.7% felt that GPs and doctors should be protected,
10.1% that hospitals should be protected.
Half the respondents could not name an NHS service that they felt should be reduced.
14.2% said there shouldn’t be any cuts. Of those that did, 17.7% said that alcohol,
drug or smoking services should be reduced.
When asked about what the NHS should stop providing, 68.4% said they didn’t know
or couldn’t say and 16.6% said there should be no cuts – 85.0% in total.
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1.
Introduction
1.1
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has used a citizens panel telephone survey
since 2003.
The telephone survey and top up methodology was designed to address the falling
response rates and the under representation of certain groups.
This survey covered three key issues; volunteering, residents perceptions of the impact
of the current economic climate on their own personal circumstances and questions
about the council and NHS budgets.
Where percentages do not add up to 100 this is due to rounding error or multiple choice
questions.
1.2
1.3
1.4
2.
The survey sample
2.1
Vision Twentyone21, a Manchester based research company were contracted to carry
out fieldwork for the Citizens Panel for a two year period until mid 2011. The original
sample for the surveys was randomly selected from a list of telephone numbers
available to research companies. The recruitment was then designed to draw randomly
from the sample and at the same time ensure the panel includes residents from all
wards.
2.2
In addition to recruiting to the panel through telephone calls, in previous waves a more
targeted recruitment for young people aged 16 to 24 has been undertaken. Flyers were
distributed at college enrolment days, information was put on the Council website and
homepage and most effectively, face to face recruitment took place in Blackburn and
Darwen town centres. Due to the snow and ice during the fieldwork period for this
survey, targeted recruitment was not undertaken in Blackburn and Darwen town
centres.
2.3
To assist in making comparisons at small geographic areas, around 50 people were
interviewed in each ward. In order to account for the bias this would introduce in the
survey sample as a whole, a weight was applied to the results that took into account the
varying population size of each ward and also the under representation of young people
in the sample.
2.4
Data collection took place during November 2010. During this time the views of 1,184
people, whose demographic characteristics met the quotas set, were collected.
2.5
Gender breakdown
46.9% of the weighted sample were male and 53.1% female.
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Age distribution
The weighting applied to the survey data aimed to account for the under representation
of respondents in the 16 to 24 age group and over representation of respondents in the
25 to 34, 35 to 44 and 50 to 54 age groups. Graphs below illustrate the unweighted
sample compared to the population of Blackburn with Darwen and the effect of
weighting to improve the representativeness of the sample.
9.2% of the sample fell into the 16 to 24 age range. Although this is below the desired
17.5%, this is an increase on the February 2009 panel where only 6.7% of the sample
were in the 16 to 24 age range, but less than the 13.5% in the July 2010 panel survey.
This decrease could be attributable to the fact that face to face recruitment on street
was not undertaken.
Age of respondents in the November 2009 Panel survey compared to 2009 Mid Year
Population estimates.
25.0
17.0
6.6
6.3
7.1
7.0
7.8
10.8
9.0
17.6
19.1
20.4
16.3
9.2
5.0
17.1
10.0
19.5
15.0
9.2
Percentage
20.0
0.0
16-24
25-34
35-44
45-49
50-54
Panel Unweighted
55-59
60-64
65+
2009 MYE
Base Panel 1,184 (unweighted)
Age of respondents in the November Panel survey, weighted, compared to 2009 Mid
Year Population estimates.
25.0
20.0
17.0
6.6
6.6
7.1
7.1
7.8
7.8
9.0
8.9
5.0
17.0
19.1
19.2
16.3
16.4
10.0
17.1
15.0
17.0
Percentage
2.6
0.0
16-24
25-34
35-44
45-49
50-54
Panel Unweighted
Base Panel 1,185 (weighted)
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55-59
2009 MYE
60-64
65+
2.4
Ethnicity
75.2% of the weighted sample gave their ethnic group as ‘white’ (75.3% unweighted).
This compares to 80.1% of the population aged 16 and over in the borough1.
2.5
Disability or long-term illness
23.3% of the weighted sample stated that they had a disability or long term illness
(23.8% of the unweighted sample). This compares to 25.5% of those aged 16 and over
in the 2001 Census.
Over a third (35.8%) of respondents said that they looked after or gave help or support
to family members, friends, neighbours or others because of long term physical or
mental ill health or disability problems related to old age.
2.4
Children in the household
61.2% of respondents did not have any children under the age of 16 living in the
household (60.1% in the unweighted sample).
2.5
Access to a car
Just under half the respondents stated that their household owned one car, 45.6%
(46.8% in the unweighted sample). Only 15.7% said that their household did not own a
car (15.1% in the unweighted sample).
Cars owned by the respondents’ household.
Three or
more,
10.0%
No cars,
15.7%
Two cars,
28.7%
One car,
45.6%
Base 1,185 (weighted)
2.6
Length of time in the borough
Almost nine in every ten people interviewed stated that they had lived in the borough for
over ten years (89.6%). 7.6% had lived in the borough for between five and ten years.
2.7
Employment status
Just over a third of the sample were in full time employment (36.5%) and 14.2%
employed part time. 7% were unemployed and 21.9% retired.
Source: 2007 Mid year population estimates by ethnic group, experimental statistics
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=14238
1
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3.
Results
All data presented in the following section are weighted.
3.1
Volunteering
Firstly, respondents were asked whether they formally volunteered with any clubs or
organisations. This question was asked previously in the Place Survey. As the Place
Survey was administered using a telephone survey, the results are not directly
comparable to this Citizens Panel.
3.1.1 Regular volunteering with a club or organisation
Calculated using the same methodology as the NI6, 19.6% of respondents stated that
they had volunteered with a club or organisation for at least once a month or more.
Although using a different methodology, the Place Survey figure was 23% for 2008. The
Citizens Panel results are just below this figure, but taking into account confidence
intervals for the data, the proportions for the two years appear to show no significant
change.
Percentage of residents who volunteer
Don’t know 0.4
I have not given any unpaid help at all over the last
12 months
68.0
I give unpaid help as an individual only and not
through groups(s), club(s) or organisation(s)
4.1
Less often
7.9
Less than once a week but at least once a month
7.7
11.9
At least once a week
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Percentage
Base 1,185 (weighted)
There were few differences in levels of regular volunteering by the various demographic
groups. Only age and car ownership showed significant differences.
Fewer residents from households that don’t have access to a car regularly volunteered,
compared to households who had two, or three or more cars. Households with two cars
had higher rates of regular volunteering than households with only one car. This is likely
to be a reflection of levels of deprivation as people who live in the most 10% deprived
areas of the borough formally volunteer less than people who live in the least deprived
areas.
Residents in the age ranges ‘16 to 24’ and ‘35 to 44’ had higher rates of regular
volunteering compared to those aged ‘25 to 34’ and ‘45 to 54’. There were no
significant differences in the older age ranges.
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3.2
Impact of the current economic climate
Respondents were asked a series of questions that aimed to ascertain how much of an
impact the current economic climate was having upon residents of the borough.
3.2.1 Perceptions of income and financial situation
The first question asked related to respondent’s household income. Participants were
read a series of phrases and asked to pick the one that best described their feelings
about their household income.
3.2.2 Which of these phrases comes closest to describing your feelings about your
household income these days?
Just under a quarter said that they were living comfortably on their current income. Over
half the respondents said that they were coping and over one in five survey participants
said that they were finding it difficult or very difficult on their current household income.
Resident’s perceptions of their current household income
Prefer not to say
0.6
Finding it very difficult
on present income
4.8
Finding it difficult on
present income
18.1
Coping on present
income
52.9
Living comfortably on
present income
23.6
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Percentage
Base 1,185 (weighted)
There were some differences when comparing the demographic characteristics of
residents.
Not surprisingly, a far lower proportion of those living in the most deprived areas of the
borough said that they were living comfortably on their present income, compared to
those in the least deprived areas. Likewise a higher proportion of respondents from the
most deprived areas were finding it difficult to cope, than the least deprived areas.
As a large percentage of the Asian / Asian British community in the borough live in some
of the most deprived areas, Asian / Asian British respondents were more likely to say
they were ‘finding it difficult to cope on present income’. Whilst a higher proportion of
White respondents said that they were ‘living comfortably on present income’. There
were no statistically significant ethnic differences between those ‘coping on present
income’ or ‘finding it very difficult on present income’.
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A greater proportion of men said that their family was living comfortably on their present
income.
Generally, a lower percentage of respondents aged 55 and over said that they were
‘finding it difficult on present income’ compared to the younger age ranges. Likewise, a
greater proportion of those aged 55 and over said they were living comfortably than the
25 to 44 age range.
Respondents who had a limiting long term illness or disability were significantly more
likely than those without to say that they were ‘finding it very difficult on present income’
and a significantly lower percentage said that they were ‘living comfortably’. There were
no significant differences for the other statements.
3.2.3 Compared to this time last year, would you say that you and your family are financially…
People taking part in the survey were asked about how their financial circumstances
had changed over the last year. Over two in every five people said that they and their
family were financially ‘about the same’. Just under two in every five were ‘a little worse
off’.
Respondents’ perceptions of how their financial circumstances have changed over the
last year
0.5
Prefer not to say
Much worse off
8.6
37.5
A little worse off
43.7
About the same
A little better off
7.8
1.9
Much better off
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Percentage
Base 1,185 (weighted)
The characteristics of those respondents, where a significantly greater proportion said
they were ‘much worse off’ compared to other groups included:
 Unemployed
 People aged 35 to 64
 Disabled people: disabled respondents were more likely to say that they were ‘a
little’ or ‘much worse off’ than a year ago (58.9%) compared to those without a
disability (42.1%)
 Carers: carers were more likely to say that they were ‘a little’ or ‘much worse off’
(52.6%) than those without a caring responsibility (42.4%).
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The characteristics of those respondents, where a significantly greater proportion said
they were ‘a little worse off’ compared to other groups included:
 Respondents in the mid age range ‘45 to 54’, were more likely than the younger
age ranges to say they were ‘a little worse off’
The characteristics of those respondents, where a significantly greater proportion said
they were ‘a little better off’ compared to other groups included:
 Younger age ranges (16 to 24 and 25 to 34) compared to those in the eldest (55
to 64 and 65 and over)
 Asian / Asian British people (13.2% compared to 5.8% White respondents)*.
* This result could be linked to those seen in the age analysis, Asian / Asian British
respondents tended to have a younger age profile than White respondents.
Interestingly, there were no significant differences by deprivation.
3.2.4 And thinking into the future, how concerned are you about you and your families
financial situation in the coming year?
Respondents were then asked to think into the future and say how concerned they felt
about their and their families’ financial situation in the coming year.
Seven out of every ten respondents said that they were ‘fairly’ or ‘very’ concerned about
their financial situating in the coming year.
Respondents’ level of concern about their financial situation in the coming year
Prefer not to say
0.2
Don’t know
1.6
Not at all concerned
6.8
Not very concerned
20.4
Fairly concerned
43.7
Very concerned
27.5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Percentage
Base 1,185 (weighted)
The characteristics of those respondents, where a significantly greater proportion said
they were ‘very concerned’ compared to other groups included:
 Females
 Those looking after family or home
 People with children
 People living in the most deprived areas
 Carers for disabled or ill people
 Asian / Asian British
 Unemployed
 Aged from 35 to 54
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‘Fairly’ concerned:
 Disabled respondents
 Part time employed
A large proportion of those who said that they were very concerned about their families
finances in the coming year, had also said that they were much, or a little worse off than
a year ago (68.6%).
This compares to those who were ‘not at all concerned’ about their and their families
financial situation in the coming year. Only 18.3% of these people said that they were
‘much’ or a ‘little’ worse off in the last year, 7.7% said that they were ‘much better off’.
Respondents’ level of concern about their financial situation in the coming year and
how their finances have changed in the last year
100%
90%
4.9%
2.3%
0.6%
5.3%
17.7%
21.4%
25.0%
20.6%
80%
40.9%
Much worse off
Percentage
70%
A little worse off
60%
47.2%
About the same
50%
57.7%
68.2%
60.8%
40%
A little better off
44.9%
30%
20%
24.9%
10%
0%
Much better off
4.2%
1.7%
7.8%
1.4%
13.3%
4.5%
7.7%
1.7%
Very
Fairly
Not very
Not at all
concerned concerned concerned concerned
(Base 326) (Base 518) (Base 241) (Base 80)
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13.2%
0.0%
Don’t know
(Base 19)
3.2.5 Whether respondents agreed or disagreed with the following statements about their
financial circumstances.
Respondents were read out a number of statements and asked whether they agree or
disagree with them.
Respondents agreeing or disagreeing with statements about their financial
circumstances
In the last year I’ve been paying off my debts, rather than
spending or saving money
18.9
In the last year I’ve had to borrow money to help pay bills
10.3 10.9
I have been saving more over the last year, in case
finances get tighter
21.7
15.1
20.6
22.0
32.1
In the last year I’ve been spending less, by cutting back
on luxuries and some of the things l like to do
33.8
0%
20%
1.7
56.1
25.5
I feel more anxious or worried about my finances than I
did a year ago
37.1
30.4
27.6
36.3
22.4
40.4
40%
0.8
1.4
8.2
17.0
60%
7.7 1.1
80%
100%
Percentage
Strongly agree
Tend to agree
Tend to disagree
Strongly disagree
Prefer not to say
Base 1,185 (weighted)
The current economic climate looks to have impacted upon a high proportion of
residents of the borough. Three in every four respondents (74.2%) agreed (strongly or
tended to) that in the last year they had been spending less, by cutting back on luxuries
and some of the things they like to do. When asked whether they felt more anxious or
worried about their finances than a year ago 68.4%, over two in three respondents
agreed that they did to some extent.
There was a more mixed picture in relation to respondents saving more, in case
finances get tighter. 40.6% agreed to some degree, 58.0% disagreed.
For breakdowns of these questions by demographic group, please contact the Corporate
Research Team.
The maps presented below show the unweighted data, based on the centre point of
respondent’s postcodes (where available), for each of the statements.
Please note that there may be more than one respondent in each postcode area and
that small areas that are highlighted will not pinpoint the actual location of the
respondent. The maps are presented to aid the identification of small clusters of people
agreeing or disagreeing with the statements.
Postcode information was only supplied by the research agency who undertook the data
collection if the postcode contained more than one property. Thus, the data these maps
are taken from cannot be used to identify individual people.
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0.9
- 12 -
- 13 -
- 14 -
3.3
Council and NHS budgets
The budget questions used in the Citizens Panel survey mirrored those used in the
Tough Times, Tough Choices public consultation. These were asked as open ended
(literal) questions and were coded to assist in the interpretation of results.
Respondents were asked to list ONE service for each of the budget questions. Where
more than one service was given, the first service mentioned was classified. Please note
that the coding process is subjective, it can be amended, for example to provide more
detail or combine issues.
As the Citizens Panel is a telephone survey, the long list of public services provided at
the public event could not be presented or read out to the respondents. Instead survey
participants were asked what, of a shorter list of services, they had used in the last six
months.
This list will have the problem of influencing participant’s responses to the questions. It
is important that this is considered in the interpretation of the results. Although reading
out the list will have influenced the respondents in some way, it was felt it was
important that we made some effort to highlight the range of services provided by the
Council.
Please note that the following responses are only part of the budget consultation
undertaken. More deliberative, qualitative work was undertaken in the public meetings.
The report summarising the responses from all consultation activity is available from the
Corporate Research Team.
3.3.1 Council budget
“The government is reducing the amount of money it gives to the Council in grants and
we have to change the way the Council works and the way services are provided. This
will mean a £48m spending cut over the next 4 years.
The Council provides around 800 different services. I’m going to read out a list of a few
of these can you let me know whether you have used or benefited from them in the last
6 months?”
Respondents’ perceptions of the services they have used or benefited from in the last 6
months
Bin collections
Libraries and Museums
Leisure centres
Schools
Road maintenance
Care for older people
Other
Youth services
Neighbourhood teams
Energy advice
Planning
bdirect contact centre and one stop shops
Business advice
Base 1,185 (weighted)
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Number Percentage
942
79.4
583
49.2
516
43.5
388
32.8
334
28.2
165
13.9
158
13.3
149
12.6
139
11.8
115
9.7
95
8.0
92
7.7
35
3.0
It is useful to note that just over a fifth of respondents did not say that they benefited
from or used the bin collection service in the last six months. A significantly lower
percentage of people in the 16 to 24 and 25 to 34 age groups said that they had used
the bin collection service. It could be that greater proportions of these age groups live
with parents or others, and therefore, that others are responsible for organising their
rubbish for bin collections. This may have lead to the result that greater proportions of
these age groups perceive that they have not used or benefited from the bin collection
service.
Bin collections, libraries and museums, leisure centres and schools were the four
services used most by respondents in the last six months.
3.3.2 Services that should be protected
Following this question, respondents were asked which of these or other services (if
any) should be protected from cuts in spending.
Respondents’ coded responses outlining services that should be protected from cuts in
spending
Can't say
Education
Bins / refuse collection
Care services
Leisure services / facilities
Children's / young people services
Highways / road maintenance
Libraries
Bus / public transport
Other
Police
All some cuts
No cuts
Street cleaning / lighting etc
Community centres
Emergency services
Housing
Neighbourhoods / community
Number Percentage
194
16.3
193
16.3
167
14.1
142
12.0
133
11.2
56
4.8
49
4.1
46
3.8
40
3.4
39
3.2
35
3.0
27
2.2
19
1.6
14
1.2
12
1.0
7
0.6
7
0.6
6
0.5
Base 1,185 (weighted)
Just over one in six respondents (16.3%) did not list a specific service saying that they
couldn’t say or couldn’t choose a service.
Of the participants who specified a service, the most mentioned services were:
 Education (16.3%)
 Bins / refuse collection (14.1%)
 Care Services (12.0%)
 Leisure services / facilities (11.2%)
As would perhaps be expected, respondents tended to identify services of most use or
benefit to themselves for protection.
People with a caring responsibility (15.4%) and those with a limiting long term illness
(16.3%) were more likely than those without to say that care services should be
protected (10.2% without a caring responsibility, 10.7% without a limiting long term
illness).
- 16 -
A greater proportion of respondents with children expressed that children and young
people’s services (7.4%) and education (24.8%) should be protected compared to those
without children. (Without children: 3.1% young people’s services and 10.9% education
should be protected).
There were no differences in services named compared to deprivation status. With the
exception that the least deprived areas were more likely to note bus or public transport
should be protected compared to the most deprived areas (4.9% compared to 1.4%).
This is likely to be a reflection of the more rural affluent areas relying more heavily on
public transport compared to the more central deprived areas.
Students were least likely to say that they would like bins / refuse collection protected
and more likely than a number of other groups to say that they would want leisure
services / facilities protected.
Retired respondents were least likely to say that they would like education services
protected and most likely to say that bus / public transport should be protected.
3.3.3 Services that should be reduced
After respondents had been asked what services areas should be protected, they were
asked to list any service areas that they thought the council should do less of.
Respondents’ coded responses outlining services that should be reduced
Can't say
Administration / bureaucracy
Advice services
Roads
Leisure services / facilities
Sculptures / street decoration
Other
Regeneration
No cuts at all
All make some cuts
Libraries / museums
Benefits
Bins / refuse collection
Planning
Health
Neighbourhoods
Children / young people's services
Immigrants / BME groups
Community centres
Parking enforcement
Education
Police
Older people
One stop shop
Exclusive services
Housing / homelessness
Number Percentage
683
57.6
112
9.5
58
4.9
39
3.3
37
3.1
31
2.6
27
2.2
22
1.9
20
1.7
19
1.6
18
1.5
17
1.4
16
1.4
11
0.9
10
0.8
10
0.8
10
0.8
9
0.8
7
0.6
7
0.6
6
0.5
6
0.5
4
0.3
4
0.3
2
0.2
2
0.2
Base 1,185 (weighted)
- 17 -
Examples of responses coded under each category are presented below. These quotes
do not aim to be representative of the responses received, but are provided as
illustrations.
Almost three in every five respondents weren’t able to specify a service that they felt the
council should do less of.
Some of the comments received included:
“If you cut any of those services you’ll end up with problems”
“Residents need lots of different services so I can’t say”
“Can’t really think of a service that should have less money spent on it”
“Not really, they are all valuable”
“Don’t know. People in the council know more about what can be cut than I do”
Just under one in ten said that there should be less administration or bureaucracy.
Comments included:
“Don’t think of spending less, but be more efficient”
“I think that they don’t use the money they’ve got properly”
“I’m not familiar with the services, but I think the public sector should not be earning as
much as they do. Their salaries should be cut”
“I think councillors expenses and mayors dinner parties should be reduced”
Only very small numbers of respondents specified a service, the three most mentioned
services were:
- Advice services (4.9%)
“The business ones, I know it helps businesses but I think that services would be a
decent cut compared to schools and libraries”
“I think they reduce energy advice as that information can be found elsewhere”
“Business advice because it is available from other sources”
- Roads (3.3%)
“Road works, but only where unnecessary like speed bumps”
“Traffic measures; changes to road system .Amount spent on one ways system is an eye
sore and has not produced results”
“Road maintenance, sometimes people are doing work on the roads and they’re not
doing anything except causing traffic jams”.
- Leisure services / facilities (3.1%)
“Leisure centres, fitness schemes etc should not be provided because people can do it
for themselves”
“The children’s parks as they are constantly vandalised so it’s a waste of money”
“I’d rather they didn’t cut any, but if they had to I’d say leisure”
“Too much money spent on leisure facilities in deprived or poorer areas”
“Free entertainment events e.g. musical performances. People should be prepared to
pay for entertainment”.
3.3.4 Services that the council should stop providing all together
Following the same format as the previous question, respondents were asked if there
was one thing that they felt the council should stop providing altogether.
When asked about what services should be cut, 77.5% did not specify any and 9.7%
said that there shouldn’t be any cuts.
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Over three out of every four respondents said that they couldn’t say or name a service
that the council should stop providing.
“I can’t think of any off the top of my head”
“I can’t comment as I don’t have the information to decide what is not needed”
“I hadn’t thought of that”
“It’s too difficult, I need time to properly think. They can’t stop any of the services
mentioned”
“I do not know the full extent of council services to decide which services should be
stopped”
One in ten people said that the council should not stop providing any service or that
there shouldn’t be any cuts at all:
“The council should not stop any particular service altogether”
“I don’t think so, the services are all needed - in this particular area they are not actually
very good anyway”
“None, keep on providing what they do”
“There aren't any because they're all necessary”
“No. I think what the council provides are essential and needed”
Respondents’ coded responses outlining services that the council should stop providing
Can't say
No cuts
Advice
Administration / efficiencies
Other
Benefits
Community centres / neighbourhoods
Aesthetics floral / sculptures
Leisure services / facilities
Immigrants / BME groups
All cuts
Roads e.g. traffic calming, traffic wardens
Libraries / museums
Regeneration
Bus / bus passes
Police
Planning
Street cleaning
Base 1,185 (weighted)
- 19 -
Number Percentage
919
77.5
115
9.7
37
3.1
16
1.4
14
1.2
13
1.1
13
1.1
10
0.8
10
0.8
10
0.8
6
0.5
6
0.5
5
0.4
4
0.4
3
0.3
2
0.2
2
0.1
1
0.1
3.3.5 NHS budget
As with the council questions, respondents were read a short list of service provided by
the local NHS and then asked what services they had used. However, unlike the council
questions, where this was asked as a multi response question the NHS question was
open, allowing participants to give their own unprompted response.
“Although not facing the same reductions in funding that Councils are, to meet future
challenges the NHS will need to change the way it works and the way health services
are provided.
NHS Blackburn with Darwen purchases many different services and programmes, and
NHS care is provided by many different providers. It organises:
Primary care, for example GP practices, pharmacies and dentists
Specialist hospital care, both planned or emergency, medical treatment or surgery
Services to help people lead healthier lives, for example drug and alcohol or stop
smoking services
Services for children and families, for example maternity services, childhood
vaccinations and school nurses
Mental wellbeing programmes and mental health services
Help for people to manage long term health problems like diabetes and heart disease,
including self help programmes”
To enable analysis of the services used by respondents, the literal responses were
coded and classified as outlined below.
Please note that although people were asked to list the services they had used in the
last six months, some respondents specified services that they had used in the last
year. As with all information based on perceptions, not all survey participants may have
responded to the survey accurately. All responses were coded.
Around four in every nine respondents said that they had used the services of a GP in
the last 6 months. It must be noted that not all these people had used a GP themselves
as some had taken friends or relatives.
Examples of the responses for these people are:
“In the last 6 months I have visited my GP”
“I’ve used my GP”
“We’ve used the GP surgeries. My little boy uses the dentist and baby clinic”
Respondents’ self reported use of NHS services in the last six months
GP
Other
Hospital
None
Dentist
Chemist / pharmacy
A and E
Diabetes
Emergency
Maternity
All
Don't know
No reply
Number
547
308
294
239
238
173
54
47
23
21
13
3
1
Percentage
46.1
26.0
24.8
20.1
20.1
14.6
4.6
3.9
1.9
1.7
1.1
0.2
0.1
Base 1,185 (weighted)
- 20 -
3.3.6 Service that should be protected
For a number of services a greater proportion than non users said that the service
should be protected. Which is as would be expected.
For example 29% of people who had used A and E said that they would like to see it
protected and 26.5% of people who said that they had used emergency services;
greater proportions than people who had not used A and E and emergency services, but
had used other services, for example GPs (4.7%) or hospital (6.1%).
Services for people with long term illnesses were identified as those that should have
protection by a greater percentage of people who had used diabetes services than
others.
46.4% of people who had used maternity services said that they should be protected,
compared to 5.3% of people who had not used maternity services but used a GP for
example.
GPs and doctors were mentioned as a service that needed protecting by similar
proportions of respondents, regardless of usage.
Respondents’ coded responses outlining services that should be protected from any
squeeze in spending
Can't say
GPs and doctors
No cuts
Hospitals
Children / older people / vulnerable people
A and E
Other
Maternity services
Mental health
Front line services
Long term illnesses
Dental services
Cancer services
Emergency services
Primary care
Drug / alcohol / stop smoking / healthy lives
Ambulance services
Home community visits
Transport
Cardio vascular
All cuts
Screening / preventable illnesses
Efficiencies
Number
184
174
170
119
86
74
63
50
34
31
31
27
26
24
23
20
16
8
8
7
5
3
2
Percentage
15.6
14.7
14.4
10.1
7.2
6.2
5.3
4.2
2.9
2.6
2.6
2.3
2.2
2.0
1.9
1.7
1.3
0.7
0.7
0.6
0.4
0.3
0.1
Base 1,185 (weighted)
Examples of responses coded under each category are presented below. These quotes
do not aim to be representative of the responses received, but are provided as
illustrations.
- 21 -
- Can’t say (15.6%)
“No nothing comes to mind, although resources should be educated- for example
patients should be encouraged to use facilities properly for example unnecessary calls
to the doctors or going to the doctors unnecessarily”
“Not specifically. Unless a person has a specific requirement it's difficult to think of one.
They're all important and I can't prioritise one over another”
“Not sure difficult question.”
“I don't know, I can't single one out compared to other”
- GPs and doctors (14.7%)
“GP services because that's universally used”
“GPs; more access will help stop misuse of other areas for treatment eg. Accident and
emergency”
“The doctor’s surgery hours shouldn't be cut. They should be using more of the hours so
people can see doctors”
“I think that GP practices should be protected”
- No cuts (14.4%)
“All NHS services should be protected”
“All of them should be kept as they are”
“All of them should can’t think any that should be cut”
“Don't cut back on anything because someone will need the service”
“They shouldn't touch the national health”
- Hospitals (10.1%)
“I think that the hospital services should be protected”
“Specialist hospital care”
“I think that the hospitals and in particular accident and emergency”
“Hospitals and doctors”
3.3.7 Service that should have less money spent on them
Half the survey sample said that they couldn’t choose or think of a service in the NHS
that should have less money spent on it.
Of those who mentioned a service, 17.2%, said that the amount spent on alcohol, drug
or stop smoking services should be reduced.
- 22 -
Respondents’ coded responses outlining services that should have less money spent
on them
Can't say
Alcohol / tobacco / drugs
No cuts
Administration / efficiencies
Other
Diet and healthy lifestyles
GPs
Cosmetic / elective survey
Fertility and contraception
Dentist
Less time wasting my patients
Pharmacies
Maternity services
School services
Prescriptions
Immigrants / non-UK
All cuts
Physiotherapy
Hospitals
Number
595
204
169
84
32
23
15
14
12
6
6
5
5
5
3
3
3
2
1
Percentage
50.2
17.2
14.2
7.1
2.7
2.0
1.3
1.2
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.1
Base 1,185 (weighted)
- Can’t say (50.2%)
“I am not too sure about what money is spent on them already, I do not know enough to
make one choice”
“I can't say because I don't know the efficiency figures that departments are running at”
“I can't think of a service that deserves less money”
“I do not think any should have any less money spent on them that I am aware of”
- Alcohol / tobacco / drugs (17.2%)
“Campaigns to stop people smoking is a total waste of money and it would be far better
directed for people who actually need medical help”
“Drug and alcohol abuse; self inflicted, should not expect tax payers to pay for them
getting better”
“Drug and alcohol programmes”
“Drug and alcohol rehabilitation; it encourages them to stay out of work and continue
their lifestyle as well as anti social behaviour etc”
“I think services to help people lead healthier lives, for example drug and alcohol or stop
smoking services should be stopped”
“Stop Smoking; people's choice to smoke, they shouldn't be funded to stop”
- No cuts (14.2%)
“I don't think they should cut NHS services at all”
“No I don't think there should be any cuts in the NHS, it is a very important service”
“I feel service comes through need, therefore all the services are required and should
not have any funding reduced”
“No, I don't think any services should be cut. The NHS is already stretched”
“Wouldn't like to pinpoint one, as they are all needed in one way or another”
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3.3.7 Service that the NHS should stop providing
Finally, respondents were asked if there was one service that the NHS should stop
providing.
Almost seven in every ten people said that they couldn’t name a service that the NHS
should stop providing and one in six said that there shouldn’t be any cuts to the NHS. In
total 85% of respondents could not name a service that should be cut.
Respondents’ coded responses outlining services that the NHS should stop providing
Can't say / don’t know
No cuts
Alcohol / tobacco / drugs
Cosmetic / elective surgery
Other
Diet and healthy lifestyles
Fertility and contraception
Administration / efficiencies
Immigrants / non-UK
Dentist
School services
All cuts
Transport
GPs
Prescriptions
Health visitors
Number Percentage
810
68.4
198
16.7
101
8.5
21
1.7
15
1.2
9
0.7
7
0.6
5
0.4
5
0.4
3
0.3
3
0.2
3
0.2
2
0.2
2
0.2
1
0.1
1
0.1
Base 1,185 (weighted)
Very small numbers of people specified services that the NHS should cut, the top two
were: alcohol / tobacco / drugs services (8.5%) and cosmetic or elective surgery (1.7%).
- Alcohol / tobacco / drugs
“Drugs for drugs addicts, like drug addicts who are supported by methadone”
“Alcohol and drug services; they should have responsible behaviour, a lot of tax payers
money is spent on these people and they haven't come to their senses”
“Anything to do with smoking, it's the people's own fault, they know the implications
when they start smoking and so money should not be given to people who do smoke”
“I think they should stop providing for help for people with addictions”
“Smoking cessation clinic”
- Cosmetic / elective surgery
“Cosmetic surgery (except burns, scars etc)”
“Tattoo removal and cosmetic surgery things that aren't life threatening. These should
be funded privately”
“Cosmetic surgery like nose jobs and breast implants these should be private. Also
gastric bands should not be free”
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3.4
Social media use
The last few Panel surveys have included a question about use of social media. This
information is collected to provide information about the developing use of this media,
and support its utilisation in communications.
This survey asked whether respondents had used any social media in the last 12
months. Facebook (46.2%) remains the most widely used off all the social media
products listed. However, a significant proportion of the sample (41.9%) do not use any
of the social media listed.
Number and percentage of respondents who have used the following social media in
the last 12 months
Facebook
Twitter
My Space
You Tube
Bebo
Blogs
MSN
None of the above
Number Percentage
541
46.2
71
6.1
38
3.3
436
37.3
15
1.3
35
3.0
248
21.2
491
41.9
Base 1,171 (weighted)
95.5% of respondents aged 16 to 24 had used Facebook, compared to 5.2% of those
aged 65 and over. Usage for all social media decreases significantly with age, 93.7% of
survey participants aged 65 and over had not used any of the social media listed.
Focusing on the 16 to 24 age range, there were no ethnic differences in social media
use, with the exception of MSN. 73.5% of Asian / Asian British 16 to 24 year olds used
MSN, compared to only 42.9% of White respondents.
Percentage of respondents using social media by age range
100
90
80
70
Facebook
Percentage
You Tube
60
MSN
Tw itter
50
My Space
Blogs
40
Bebo
30
None of the above
20
10
0
16 to 24
25 to 34
35 to 44
45 to 54
55 to 64
65 and over
4 Further information and analyses
Further information and analyses can be obtained from Corporate Research Joint
Intelligence on request.
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