How is Covid-19 impacting on people's access to and experience of health and social care services in Sheffield?

Healthwatch Sheffield’s May 2020 Covid-19 briefing summarised feedback about the impact of the pandemic on access to health and social care services across the city. The report highlighted a mixture of positive and negative experiences as services adapted to new ways of working. One positive example came from a patient who reported a successful asthma review using a questionnaire and telephone consultation, demonstrating that remote appointments could work well for some people when appropriately managed. 

A recurring concern was communication and access to information. People seeking dental treatment reported uncertainty about how services were operating and when paused treatments might resume. Some individuals experienced worsening conditions while waiting for care and struggled to obtain clear information about available options. Others expressed confusion about changes to national lockdown restrictions, particularly people who were shielding and felt excluded from plans to ease restrictions. Social isolation was reported as having a growing impact on mental wellbeing. 

The report also highlighted difficulties experienced by vulnerable groups. Healthwatch continued to hear concerns that some people with learning disabilities found government guidance difficult to understand, increasing the risk that they would unknowingly place themselves in unsafe situations. Concerns were also raised about reduced support services, including delays in fitting care door alarms that helped some people remain safe and independent. Feedback suggested that disruptions to routine support could have significant consequences for those relying on these services. 

Additional issues related to access and communication within local services. A negative pharmacy experience highlighted difficulties maintaining social distancing, while some people reported problems contacting Sheffield City Council’s First Contact service and not receiving responses to messages left. Healthwatch also received concerns about communication within care homes, particularly around informing residents about Covid-19 cases within their homes. Overall, the briefing identified communication, accessibility and support for vulnerable groups as key issues during the early stages of the pandemic.