Healthwatch covid report highlights health and care struggles during pandemic in Cambridgeshire
A report about people’s health and care during the coronavirus pandemic shines a light on the struggles of some of the most disadvantaged in our communities across Cambridgeshire.
Your care during Covid – published by today (Thursday) Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and Healthwatch Peterborough – has learning for all organisations planning and delivering care across our area.
The report highlights findings from a three-month Covid survey which ran between May and August, capturing the experiences of 1,131 local people.
It tells how people were affected by the pandemic and changes to services, particularly older people, those with disabilities or long-term health conditions and carers. And raises concerns about increasing health inequalities for those who are not online.
Healthwatch is the independent champion for people using health and care. And its job is to listen to what people say about services and make sure this is heard and acted on by those running local services.
Findings from the survey have been shared over the last few months with the people buying and providing local health, care and support services and helped shape local NHS winter and recovery plans.
Cambridgeshire County Council, which provides social care and runs support hubs, has also thanked Healthwatch for the “powerful insights” to help them respond better to local needs.
Healthwatch CEO Sandie Smith, said: “We have had an amazing response to our survey and we must thank everyone who took part, shared their stories and trusted us to pass that information on to help services understand what matters to people.
“It has been humbling to hear how people have fared and some of the experiences they shared have been tough reads.
“The pandemic has been a very difficult experience for many people who have been badly affected by disruption to their usual support systems, by the pause in treatments, delayed operations, or by loneliness, isolation and anxiety.
“Nearly one in three people told us that there had been a high or significant impact on their mental health and wellbeing.”
The Healthwatch survey also flagged:
Three in ten people avoided getting help for a health problem.
Out of those that did seek help, three out of four rated it highly.
People’s messages of appreciation to health and care workers
The shutdown of dental services worsened existing problems around access to high street NHS dental care.
Although some people have taken to online hospital or GP appointments, they don’t work for everyone. Many people don’t have the internet and those with sensory impairments find remote consultations hard to access.
Now Healthwatch is pressing organisations providing services to take on the learning from the survey including:
Making sure communication about changes to services and to people’s treatment or care is clear and given at the appropriate time.
Tackling health inequalities - especially where people’s needs have not been met under the Accessible Information Standard.
Building on the use of technology to communicate with people, whilst finding other solutions for people who cannot manage remote consultations.
Understanding the impact of isolation on new families and what the disruption of services has meant for families with children or family members with additional needs.